WHAU BRIDGE

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 43, 13 May 1927, Page 9

WHAU BRIDGE

WIDTH AND SUBSIDY MUST MEET FUTURE REQUIREMENTS On the fine stretch of concrete road extending out through New Lynn is a dangerous and obsolete wooden bridge over the Whau estuary on the city side of New Lynn. The bridge is to be replaced by a concrete or steel structure, but further action is held up pending a decision as to how wide it will be, and who will pay for it. When the local bodies have reached a decision probably the Auckland Harbour Board will have something to say. A conference representing some of the local interests in the bridge was held in Auckland yesterday. New Lynn, Avondale and the city representatives were present, the bones of contention being the width of the bridge and the highways subsidy. The Highways Board offered £ for £ on a structure 18 feet wide, but the local bodies concerned want a 38-foot roadway, with footpaths on either side (5 feet wide, which means a considerable increase in the subsidy.

The mayor, Mr. G. Baildon, and the city engineer, Mr. W. E. Bush, were in accord with building a 50-foot wide bridge, and were supported by Mr. W. L. Titchener, New Lynn, and Mr. VV. Pendlebury, Avondale. The conference decided that a 50-foot bridge should be built, and that the Highways Board should be asked to subsidise £ for £ as on a bridge with 24 feet of roadway and two 5-foot paths. A point about the construction that will arise later will concern the actual design. Possibly a design providing a concrete pier into the estuary will meet with the veto of the Harbour Board in view of possible canal operations.