WAIRAU BRIDGE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 11 September 1937, Page 8

WAIRAU BRIDGE

WARNING SIGNS ASKED FOR COUNTY COUNCIL’S OPINION On the motion of Councillor A. M. W. Adams, the Marlborough County Council decided to ask the Main Highways Board to erect notices at each end of the Wairau Bridge, near Renwick, warning motorists to drive slowly (reports the “Express”). In moving to this effect, Councillor Adams drew attention to the large number of accidents which had occurred on the structure through vehicles skidding on the running planks. Councillor J. Kennington contended that it was not always a question of speed. They did not want to be picking at the Highways Board too much, but he was pleased to see that the Automobile Association had moved in the direction of urging that the centre gap between the running planks be filled in. “It is that gap which is causing the trouble,” he declared. He agreed that some of the mishaps which had occurred were due to speed, but described incidents which he himself had seen to show that slow-moving vehicles were also liable to come to grief. Councillor A. M, W. Adams agreed that the remedy .was to have the gap filled in,

Councillor J. W. Douglas said it was a particularly dangerous bridge, and he had almost had an accident on it himself recently when his car skidded badly on the wet planking. Councillor Kennington said it had been suggested to him that there was something in the bridge itself that was causing the epidemic of accidents. Perhaps the piles were sinking and causing vehicles to develop an up and down motion.

The chairman (Mr A. H. Nees): Perhaps the piles are swinging. Councillor F. E. Fairweather: It is simply excessive speed. The motion was carried.