RANGITIKEI COUNTY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 18967, 19 March 1924, Page 8

RANGITIKEI COUNTY

ENGINEER’S REPORT ON .... COUNTY BRIDGES.

Mr. S. A. R. Mair has on . ounCounty bridges as follows: i As directed at meeting held on i January 24 I herewith report upon . the bridges within the County. My report covers the whole of the bridges over 5 feet span but the estimates only refer to bridges from 15 to 40 years old some if which are Only standing by force of habit. Mr. Thoms has supplied me with data from lower end of County. As previously reported very little has been done in the way cf renewals during the last 10 or 12 years, chiefly on account of the war and the resultant slump. However, with the evolution of traffic to extreme loads by motor truck it i& imperative that the position be faced immediately and provision made iur systematic repair and renewal of bridges right througnoui the County, the urgent renewals being t.uren first. By this means a considerable amount of old timber will be ma le available for repairs, instead of, as is frequently the case, new timber being used to repair old structures with very little life left. The schedule summary shows n grand total of bridges,sover 5 feet of 214, aggregating of 12,179 feet or approximately 2 1-3 miles of continuous bridge deck. Of the 214 bridges, 54 totalling 2567 feet have been renewed, chiefly in concrete or are comparatively new or built of lasting material such as concrete, iron or ironbark, or a combination of these materials. The estimates given are liberal, to provide for every place where possible to build in permanent materials, for increased weights and in . some instances increased width. In some of the larger bridges, the estimates are given for the anioifht of renewals anticipated during the 20 year period and if the boundary bridge, the probable amount the Rangitikei County Council would have to find. Practically all the bridges being dealt with are over 15 years old. The summary of the position is as fol lows—--59 bridges 5 to 20 feet. Estimated cost of renewal £13,635. 48 bridges 30 feet and over. Fs timated cost of renewal £75,30 5. 14 boundary bridges. Estimated repairs and renewals £31,750. Maximum total expenditure for next 20 years £135,580. Observation shows me that the totara obtained during the last 20 years, mainly cut off the hills inland has not the same lasting properties as that obtained from the lower Rangitikei flat s and I have direct experience of replacing timber I used in bridges during this period. First class totara is now dearer than hard wood and bridges in totara cost little less than in reinforced concrete. The quality supplied by millers as bridge totara is inferior and all the best quality goes to the joinery factories.

I have to recommend that £5OOO a year be provided for renewal of bridges. Part o( this may have io coine from rates and part may be raised under warrant for boundary bridges. However, I would recommend that Council consider a general bridge loan for a certain class of structures, as if built in concrete etc., the expenditure will not recur rind can fairly be left to future ratepayers over the term of the loan.