NEGLECT OF BRIDGES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22195, 23 February 1934, Page 13

NEGLECT OF BRIDGES

DANGEROUS TO TRAFFIC . DEPLETION OF HIGHWAYS FUND. (Special to 'Daily Tjmes.) ■. AUCKLAND, February 22. " The Highways Board .has- over 150 wooden bridges due ,for renewal and has pointed, this out to the Minister on seve-ral-occasions, informing him that it cannot get the work done unless, the money is available," said Mr M.' H. Wynyurd, motorists' representative on :the board, st a meeting of the council of the Automobile Association. The matter arose when there were exhibited two large, sections 'of pinus Jnsignis stringers from the Puhoi bridge,' part of which was washed away in the recent North Auckland floods. The -,coudition Of the' wood was illustrated when a paper, knife and several lead <peucil3 were driven deep into two: pieces with ease. A note attached to one of the sections was as follows:—'*Safety first! Confiscation of motor taxation "for the general purposes of the Government has left the highways funds so depleted that , the urgent replacement of many old wooden bridges has had to be, postponed. Sections of the stringers of the Puhoi bridge on No. 1 main arterial highway ■ collapsed during the recent flood, illustrating the dangers to.which road users are subjected in spite of the excessively high taxation which they are paying." "I'inspected the damage at the Puhoi bridge," said Mr R. E. Champtaloup, officer of the association. " Heavy passenger buses continually crossed ibis bridge, and the risk to life and limb was so N serious that I suggest the association should notify the Government that it considers the replacement of bridges of.this type of paramount importance." Mr Wyhyard said it was only one instance of what was happening throughout the country. There were any amount of small bridges as well as large ones as bad as that at Puhoi. The Highwavs Board had instructed its officers to' ra«spect the bridges regularly. ': Mr A. H. Tapper: Am I to understand that heavy traffic passed o'verthe bridge daily and that no responsible officer knew, of its condition? Mr Grayson said that vehicles up to. a total weight of four tons had be°u over it daily. The bridge did not give way through stress of traffic, however, but because of the flood. ■ Mr Champtaloup said that two years ago Mr Coates told a deputation that he understood. the position, in connection \ with bridges was fairly serious.