BRIDGE OVER THE RANGITATA

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21179, 28 October 1938, Page 8

BRIDGE OVER THE RANGITATA

Improving Road Surface Wider Decking Not Practicable Advice that the suggestion to widen the running planks across the Rangitata Bridge on the Hinds-Winchester highway was not practicable was received from Mr F. Langbein, Main Highways Board representative, Christchurch, at the monthly meeting of the committee of the Automobile Association (South Canterbury) last night. Representations in this direction have been made since a fatal motor accident on the bridge several years ago. Mr Langbein considered that a dressing of tar and grit would improve the present decking considerably. With further reference to his letter of August 31 last, wrote Mr Langbein, he had discussed with the Ashburton County Engineer the feasibility of con. tinuing the running planks across the Rangitata Bridge for the full width. If these extra running planks were put on the bridge he continued, it would add very considerable weight to the structure, which was already fairly old, and the wisdom of doing this was questioned. It was understood that there had been recent trouble with snow on the bridge, but it was considered that this was exceptional, and the completion of the longitudinal decking over the whole bridge surface would hardly improve conditions when up to a foot of snow lay on the deck. Mr Langbein concluded that the Ashbux-ton County Engineer had been instructed by his Council to take steps to improve the position by applying a dressing of tar and grit to the deck, which undex- the circumstances, Mr Langbein considered should be satisfactory.