BRIDGING THE WAIHOU.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19452, 7 October 1926, Page 12

BRIDGING THE WAIHOU.

UNDERTAKING AT KOPU

GREAT AID TO PROGRESS

MINISTER DRIVE'S FIRST PILE

[BY TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL REPORTER.] THAMES. Wednesday.

The first pile of the Hauraki Bridge over the Waihou River, at Kopu, linking the fertile Hauraki Plains and the historic Hauraki Peninsula, was driven by the Minister of Public Works, Hon. K. J?. Williams, this afternoon. The bridge is considered by the residents to be one of the most important public works in the district and has been the. subject of negotiations between local bodies and tho Government for the past 15 years, although it was mooted some years before that. A ferry service at present providesl transport across the river, but it is altogether too slow. The bridge will be 1524 ft. in length and will be constructed with concrete piles, steel girders, concrete decking and hardwood handrails. The cost is estimated at £52,000, of -which the Hauraki Plains County will contribute £12,000, the Thames Borough £12,000, tho Thames County £6OOO and the Main Highways Board £22,000. When completed, the bridge will be controlled by the Hauraki Plains County Council. Between 250 and 300 representatives from all the districts the bridge will serve were present at the ceremony. The Minister was welcomed by Mr. T. W. Rhodes, M.P., Mayor of Thames, who emphasised the value of the bridge and recounted some of the difficulties that had been experienced in obtaining unanimity among the local bodies c.oncorned in its construction.

Mr. E. L. Walton, chairman of tho Hau t raki Plains County Council,, said some of the representatives present had waited almost a lifetime for the bridge, and now that tho construction had been started ho hoped that tho work would be expedited.

Mr. J. McCormick, in the absence of Mr. H. Lowe, chairman of the Thames County Council, congratulated all concerned on the fact that at last a start had been made with the bridge. The Minister said he recognised from the little he had seen of tho district that the bridge was an important one and that it would be of great benefit to the settlers. He congratulated the local bodies concerned on the amount of money they had been able to find for tho bridge. A great deal of credit was also due to the Prime Minister, Mr. Coates, for having created the Main Highways Board, which was contributing £22,000 toward tho cost. To give the settlers an indication of the amount of work involved in constructing the bridge, Mr. Williams quoted figures relating to the work. The bridge would be constructed in 25 spans, 18 of which would bo 60ft. 2in. in length, with a 12ft. roadway, and five of the same length with a 19ft. roadway. In the centre would be two swing spans, each 70ft. by 12ft. Mr. Williams gave details of the material required. "It will be seen from the figures," he added, "that it will take some time to get the material on the site and assemble it into the bridge. As far as I, as Minister, and the Public Works Department are concerned, however, there will be no unnecessary delay." The Minister then operated the lever which set in action the steam hammer, and the pile was driven. THE WAIRAU SCHEME. EMPLOYMENT OF DAY LABOUR. The question of bridging the Wairau Creek at the joint expense of the Takapuna Borough and the Waitemata County was brought nearer finality last evening. Three tenders were received by the Takapuna Borough Council for the construction of the concrete bridge on the Inga Road site. The lowest was £2648, as against an estimate of £2130 by the borough engineer, Mr. A. Slinger.

The council decided that instead of accepting a tender, tho work should be carried out by day labour under the engineer's direction. The work will be commenced at once.

The approach to the brjdge site from the Takaputta side has already been formed by the Borough Council. Provision is to be made for the concreting of the road surface.