COLLAPSE OF BRIDGE SPAN

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 78, 26 June 1943, Page 5

COLLAPSE OF BRIDGE SPAN

CAUSED BY JEEP REFERENCE TO TIMBERED STRUCTURES (From Our Parliamentary Reporter) Wellington, June 25. “The uninjured marine in the jeep which went into the river has now admitted that he crashed into one of the main struts of the bridge,” said the Minister of Works, Mr Semple, this morning, when referring to the recent collapse of a span at Whirokino bridge near Foxton. The Minister said the collapsed span was being salvaged for investigation. When the jeep crashed into the strut it caused the span to collapse and the jeep and its occupants were carried into the river as it fell. The Minister added that there was no evidence to show that lack of maintenance contributed in any way towards the collapse A contract had been let for a new bridge and the work would be pushed on with the utmost expedition. The condition of timbered bridging still remaining on highways had been giving both the Minister and the Main Highways Board much concern and prior to the outbreak of war every effort was being made to replace them as quickly as possible. A programme of reconstruction would again be put in hand as soon as the supply of manpower, materials and plant would allow. It had to be realised that even tli. most careful inspections would not always reveal some hidden defect in an old timber bridge, and the travelling public was earnestly requested to observe carefully any load restrictions imposed Heavy army traffic had created some problems and many old bridges had had to be strengthened. Drivers of army vehicles were particularly requested to comply strictly with load restrictions.