NEW RANGITIKEI BRIDGE WILL BE ADJACENT TO EXISTING STRUCTURE

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6918, 25 May 1929, Page 7

NEW RANGITIKEI BRIDGE WILL BE ADJACENT TO EXISTING STRUCTURE

Subsidy £3 for £1

THREE new highways ESTABLISHED IN APRIL

OVERSEERS’ CERTIFICATES.

Per Press Association.

WELLINGTON, Last Night.

The Main Highways board held iti usual monthly meeting at Wellington, Mr. F. W. Furkert presiding. Following on tho board’s decision to expedite the surfacing of tho main highway between Christchurch and Invercargill, an agreement has been reached with tho Southland County council to surface this highway between Mataura and Gore and the cost of the work will be subsidised by tho board on the basis of £3 for £l. In connection with the reconstruction of tho main highway between Auckland and Hamilton, details of the Franklin County council’s proposals were before the board. At the same time, the board considered the question of deviating the main highway at Drury township. When the board was in this district some time ago, it inspected a proposed deviation, which while giving a straight alignment, would practically eliminate the township from the main road. Plans covering the straight route and ,also an alternative to improve the alignment of the present road by a deviation at the south end of the township, were prepared by the Franklin County council, which recommended tho adoption of the latter. The board decided to accept tho recommendation of the Franklin County council. Following out its policy of setting examinations for road foremen anu overseers, the board has decided to hold another examination on June 4. Applicants are tested in their ability to carry out and supervise general road construction and maintenance and the construction of bitumen and concrete pavements. Successful applicants are granted a certificate of qualification and the board has found that local authorities, in appointing overseors and foremen, are regarding tho board's certificate as a necessary qualification for. appointment. Rangitikei River Bridge.

In connection with the reconstruction of tho Rangitikei river bridge at Bulls, on the occasion of its recent visit to that district, the board took an opportunity of inspecting the present bridge and also the proposed new sites. Tho present bridge, winch is in need of substantial repair, is narrow and permits of ono way traffic only and a new two-way bridge i 3 to be built, instead of carrying out repairs to tho present narrow structure. A proposal had been submitted for the construction of tho new bridge, some distance down stream from the present ono but after an inspection and consideration of report? bj tho Public Works department’? engineers, the board has decided thal the site of the new bridge shall be just above the present bridge. Prior to its visit, the board had indicated that it would pay a subsidy of £3 for £1 towards tho cost of the new bridge but deputations from the local authorities waited on it with a request that tho board pay a subsidy of £5 for £l. After consideration of tho facts, tho board decided to adhere to the previous subsidy of £3 for £l.

On the occasion of its recent visit to the King Country, representations were made to the board that it proceed with the reconstruction and metalling of the main highway between Pipiriki and Ractihi. Tho metalling of this road would provide an all tho year round access to the main trunk from Pipiriki, thereby enabling tourists leaving the Wanganui river service at. Pipiriki to join the main trunk express at Ractihi. In view, however, of the fact that the board is spending substantial sums in connection with other roads joining up with tho Wanganui river service, it is not in a position to provide for expenditure between Pipiriki and Raetihi at the present time. • Three New Highways.

During April, three important highways—firstly, an “all weather” route hag been provided between Auckland and Waiwera which forms part of the connection between Auckland, Whangarei and the Far North; secondly, a metalled connection between Gisborno and Molu, were established, and thirdly, Wanganui was linked up with Raetihi by the completion of the metalling of what is known as tho Parapara road. In tho last-named case, something of a record was established, in that II miles were metalled in a period of eighs weeks.