WAIMAKARIRI DIVERSION SCHEME WELL UNDER WAY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18940, 10 December 1929, Page 15

WAIMAKARIRI DIVERSION SCHEME WELL UNDER WAY .

New Bridge Across River Is Now Assuming Tangible Form.

Much activity is now evident on the Waimakariri River Trust’s operations under the flood control scheme. The embankments along the lines of the new cut are well under way. On this work a dragline excavator is engaged loading specially designed trailers which are drawn to and fro by means of caterpillar tractors. These tractors are working very efficiently and no time is lost unloading; the bottom of the trailer consists of two hopper doors which are dropped down by means of a lever and hoisted again while the truck is moving along. A further dragline excavator —a huge machine —which has been hired from the Public Works Department, is almost ready to start work also. This machine has just completed the flood protection works on the Taieri Plain. ERECTION OF NEW BRIDGE. The bridge contractor’s work is now taking tangible form. The bridge when completed will consist of twentynine spans of forty feet each,, and will be carried on huge steel girders—six to each span. A number of these have been placed in position; over sixty piles have now been driven and a new pile driving crane is now in operation. This consists of a large crane with a jib sixty-five feet long carried on a large troll)'. Girders are placed in a temporary position to carry it, and much time is thus saved in moving the crane.

The approach to the bridge on the southern side has been completed and now only has to be metalled; work on

the formation of the new road is well started. The embankments in the vicinity of the bridge have been finished and the protective planting is showing signs of vigorous growth. Further work on the scheme is in progress on the south side at West Melton and Halkett, where training works are in progress to help bring the river into its new alignmnet. EYRE AND CUST DIVERSION. The whole of the works on the Eyre and Cust Rivers are practically completed and Kaiapoi is relieved of flood menace from there by the three-mile diversion of the Eyre River. A new timber bridge over this diversion at the South Eyre Road has been completed and is carrying the traffic. A large amount of the clearing of the river beds from willows has been done; on the cleared areas goats have been on to keep the young willow shoots down and by this means the trees will be killed out. Further minor operations are being carried out on the Cam River, where a traction engine is engaged removing the large willow trees growing in the bed and which form an obstruction to the flow of the water. Including men engaged by contractors, 180 men are at present employed on these works. An inspection of the whole of the works was made on Friday by Mr A. Manhire, chairman of the Finance Committee of the Trust. He was accompanied by Mr H. W. Harris, resident engineer for the Trust.