SKIDDING ON BRIDGES

Southland Times, Issue 22040, 13 June 1933, Page 4

SKIDDING ON BRIDGES

USE OF LONGITUDINAL PLANKS. DISCUSSION BY MOTOR ASSOCIATION. The recent tragedy at the Makarewa River near Wallacctown, when a motor car skidded off the bridge with the loss of three lives, was recalled at the meeting of the general committee of the Southland Motor Association last evening when Mr A. E. Wish made reference to the use of longitudinal planking on bridges. “I have thought a lot about this, and I suppose other members have done the same,” said Mr Wish. “Why cant the space outside the planks as well as inside carry light gravel? It would provide something for the tyres to grip if the car skidded. It „ would not affect horse traffic either.” “When we discussed tho matter informally after the tragedy I suggested that tar and grit would serve the purpose,” said the president (Mr D. J. Wesney). “However, we decided to do nothing till the inquest was over.” Mr G. Tauper said he had noticed that one bridge, that at the six-mile peg in the Eglinton Valley, which was at a sharp bend, had the longitudinal planks on one side. He thought such a measure was the solution of the difficulty. „ “You can skid on any bridge, remarked Mr Wish. The president said a few bridges in Southland needed attention. . The bridge at Orawia was bad, but it was just a matter of getting good timber. He did not think that putting the planks to one side would do much good in the case of a long bridge. “Couldn’t they bituminize those bridges?” asked Dr. Stanley Brown. “At a bridge at Wrey’s Bush they had been carting gravel oyer and the bridge was covered with it,’’ said Mr Wish. “It struck me then that spreading gravel would be a good idea. . It s easy for a car to skid on a wet bridge. On some of them you could slip with your feet.” On the suggestion of the president it was finally decided to refer the matter to the road traffic and camp committee for a report.