HOLIDAY TRAFFIC

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 9, 9 December 1936, Page 4

HOLIDAY TRAFFIC

CONTROL AT BULLS BRIDGE. COMPLAINT OVER DELAYS. Comment that the time was fast approaching when there would have to l>e a permanent man controlling traffic at the Itangitikei River bridge at Bulls was made at the monthly meeting of the Manawatu County Council, yesterday, by Cr. J. H. Perrett. He said tha.t there was a great deal more traffic on the roads now than three months ago, and he had been held tip at the bridge on one occasion for 20 minutes waiting to cross. Cr. R. A. Wilson said that cars could pass in the middle of the bridge, but Cr. Perrett said lie did not like taking such a risk. One had only to encounter a large lorry and one would ho in trouble. Mr A. K. Drew (county clerk) said that recently lie had the experience of ■seeing 39 cars held up at one end of the bridge and 40 at the other. That was on a Saturday, and it gave a.n indication of what the traffic would be like in the holiday period. Later in the meeting the chairman (Cr. W. E. Barber) referred the matter to the traffic inspector (Mr W. Berry) asking his opinion on the question of traffic control at tho bridge. Mr Berry said tha.t under the present arrangements men were posted at each end of the bridge on busy days. The chairman pointed out that the holiday season was approaching and there would bo a great increase in the traffic using the road over a period. Cr. Perrett: There will be tremendous traffic over the holidays. Dir Berry suggested that a man be posted at each end of the bridge from three days before Christmas until three days after New Year. Formerly, said Dir Drew, the council had approached the Rangitikci County Council, whose territory touched the Bulls end of the bridge, and the Rangitikei County Council had given the Dlanawatu Council power to provide for the supervision of the bridge on race days. On the motion of Cr. Perrett. it was decided to leave the matter in the hands of Dfessrs Berry and Drew, with power to act.