THE RANGITATA BRIDGE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22723, 8 November 1935, Page 14

THE RANGITATA BRIDGE

SAFETY OF RAISED PLANKING An echo of a motor accident which occurred last June when a Chinese was k’Tlci, and others injured, when the car he was driving crashed through the side o' the Rangitata bridge in the early hour; of the morning, was heard the other day when the Geraldine County Council discussed whether the raised longitudinal planking on the bridge constituted a danger, and decided that no danger existed for drivers who observed the speed limit. ’The Ashburton country clerk (Mr G. Kelly) advised that the council had cons’ lered the coroner’s report of the fatal accident which happened on the Rangitata traffic bridge early in June, and his recc rnmendation that the authorities should consider the question whether or not the raised planking was a source of danger. The council was of the opinion that, the raised planking was not a source of danger if drivers of motor vehicles observed reasonable speed, and it therefore felt that the expenditure of a large sum in extending the planking to the wheelguards w not necessary. Moreover. the provision of a traffic bridge at Ealing would divert most of the throvgh traffic from the present bridge. A report of the engineer of the Ashburton County Council was also enclosed.