NEW WAITAKI BRIDGE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20893, 24 November 1937, Page 10

NEW WAITAKI BRIDGE

TEST PILES TO BE DRIVEN TO-DAY The driving of test piles at the site of the proposed new railway bridge across the Waitaki River will be started to-day, when by a strange coincidence the crane which will be used will be the one which was first brought into service when the Waitaki Bridge was strengthened more than 30 years ago. The test pile driving for the new bridge will probably be its last undertaking as its days are numbered for this class of work.

As soon as the driving of test piles is completed the information gained will be submitted to the Railway Department’s chief engineer at Wellington, who will be responsible for the designing of the bridge and drawing up of plans and specifications. The actual conviction of the bridge will be commenced as soon as the plans and specifications are completed, and it is thought that the work will take from two to three years to complete. However, it is impossible to give an ac .-ate indication of how long the work will require until the tests have been completed.

The construction of the new’ bridge, which as the gateway to Otago, is the most important connecting link between the two provinces, will be the largest railway bridge construction undertaken in the Otago pro—'nee. The bridge will be three quarters of a mile long, and will probably be situated about 25 feet to 30 feet on the down stream side of the present structure. Each span will be about 33 feet in length, and there will probably be aboi’’-. 800 piles to drive. The extent of the undertaking can well be imagined when it is realised that some of the cylinders of the present bridge are 42 feet from the rail level to the foundation upon which they stand. The present bridge provides for both road and railway traffic, but the new structure will be confined to railway traffic only. T: the present bridge will be released for the use of road traffic only. However, while the tests are being made it is possible that motorists will be submitted to a slight delay. Every effort is being made by the Railway Department to reduce the delay to a minimum and motorists will be permitted to cross the bridge at half hourly intervals.