Constructing New Tangiteroria Bridge

Northern Advocate, 6 July 1945, Page 5

Constructing New Tangiteroria Bridge

Work on the construction of a new bridge at Tangiteroria, on the main highway between Whangarei and Dargaville, at a cost of approximately £ 60,000 has commenced, a start having been made with the driving of test piles. One of the difficulties is the absence of a rock foundation and long piles are therefore required, the weight of the bridge being held up by skin friction on the sides of the piles. Although the bridge is being constructed by a private contractor, all steel work is being done at the Puhlic Works Department workshops in Wellington. Length of the new bridge will be 610 feet, divided into seven spans, the longest of which, the central span, will measure 120 feet. The approach on the Whangarei side to the bridge has been completed early to allow the high bank of earth to sink and find an immovable foundation.

The old Tangiteroria bridge is still closed, making deviation of traffic through the Houto and Pakotai necessary, but the structure will be reopened to traffic when the cables off the old Titoki bridge, the dismantling of which was. commenced about three weeks ago, have been fitted as a support

Construction of the two and a-half miles of new highway on the Whangarei side of the river has been suspended owing to the wet, wintry conditions which have resulted in the worked-up clay and earth in the new cutting becoming a soft, sticky mess. Work will again be started on this portion of the road in November.