Kakariki Rail Bridge

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 152, 30 June 1938, Page 4

Kakariki Rail Bridge

In Use for Many Years

OTHER WELL-KNOWN STRUCTURES

The building of a new railway bridge at Kakariki was mentioned by a reporter yesterday to a veteran railway employee who said that to his knowledge the present structure had been used as a dual traffic bridge for over 47

years and he was ablo to recall the first picnic held by the Palmerston North friendly societies which took place on a flat just over the bridge known as West Ho. That was 43 years

As far as can bo learned the Kaka riki bridge is one of two dual bridge* on the Alain Trunk railway line. There is one slightly south of Taumarunui but that is also to bo eliminated by the construction of a road bridge alongside the railway line. Of course there are others in tho North Island, one being in daily use at Ngawapurua, between

Woodville and Pahiatua, while there are a number in the South Island.

The Rakaia bridge on the road from Christchurch to Timaru is probably the best known of these. Reputed to bo one of tho longest wooden bridges in the Southern Hemisphere, it has carried both rail and road traffic for many years. However, this structure will be replaced as part of tho highways programme to do away with such bridges as far as possible.

, Iu this connection it is interesting to note that tiie Alohaka viaduct is at present being used by motor traffic’ travelling flora Napier to Gisborne owing to the damage to the roads caused by the xeceiit disastrous floods.