NEW MANGAWARA BRIDGE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21142, 28 March 1932, Page 9

NEW MANGAWARA BRIDGE.

CONTRACT FOR ERECTION.'* WORK TO START IMMEDIATELY# A contract for the new bridge across the Mangawara Stream, on the Great. South Road near Taupiri, has been let by the Public Works Department, and work will start after the Easter holidays.' About 20 men will be engaged and it is expected that the bridge will be in use in aboufc eight months. The old bridge will then be pulled down. Tho new structure will have five spans each of 45ft., and the total width will be 32ft., allowing for a carriageway 24ft--wide and a footpath 4ft. wide on ona side. Piles and pierheads will bo of reinforced concrete and tho decking will bo high euough to permit small boats to use the stream.

From a motoring point of view, the most interesting feature of the bridge is that it will b e built on an easy curve of 6-chain radius, and will be banked slightly, the angle of cant being one inch to one foot, Tho awkward turn at tho approacli to the present bridge Will o© eliminated, doing away with ono of the most, dangerous points on tho road, and providing a far greater degree of safety, fur motorists who arc not familiar witn the highway. . - Tho structure was designed by tha Public Works Department for the Mam Highways Board ancl will be constructed under tho department's supervision. The Waikato County Council will be called, on to pav one-third of tho cost, £5500, this being tho usual quota paid by county, councils for bridges on main highways. Two fatal accidents occurred as the result of cars failing to make the turn on to the old bridge and plunging into .h» stream.