WAITARA OVERHEAD BRIDGE

Taranaki Daily News, 6 October 1931, Page 11

WAITARA OVERHEAD BRIDGE

PUSHING ON THE APPROACHES. WORK NOW ASSUMING SHAPE. The contractor for filling in the approaches to the overhead bridge at the Waitara railway crossing is taking full advantage of the fine weather to push on with the work, which has been delayed by unfavourable weather. The approach on the New Plymouth side is about 4J chains in length and on tho Waitara side six chains, entailing the shifting of 8000 cubic yards of earth. That Is being procured from railway reserves on both sides of the railway line, both above and below the bridge. The clay is being removed by means of two eelf-loading scrapers, each holding three-quarters of a yard of clay. These are drawn speedily to and fro by a caterpillar tractor which is handled with uncanny precision on the filling, turning in a very small space. Its weight, too, has the beneficial effect of consolidating the filling so that the metal coating can be added as soon as, the earth work is completed without the delay of waiting for the filling to settle. The filling will be 26ft. wide and the bTidge w’U nave a bitumen-sealed decking of 18ft., which will allow ample margin of safety for two motor-lorries to pass. From tho bridge a splendid panoramic view of the town of Waitara is to be obtained. It is the intention of the contractor to push the work to completion as early as possible. While the filling is being brought to its full width the road will only be available for one-way traffic, but plenty of warning notices will be provided and it is anticipated that traffic will be thus inconvenienced for only two or three days. Yesterday Messrs. J. S. Gonnett (chairman), W. Hall and W. D. Cartwright, members of the Taranaki County Council, accompanied by the county overseer, Mr. G. Meredith, inspected the filling in company with Messrs. J. Hine, Mayor of Waitara, and E. A. George, Waitara Borough Council, with a view to facilitating its completion in such a way as to inconvenience traffic as little as possible; also to provide for new entrances to the properties of Messrs. Fletcher and Langman.