WHIROKINO BRIDGE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 150, 28 June 1943, Page 3

WHIROKINO BRIDGE

STATEMENT BY MINISTER Wellington, June 26. “The uninjurecl Marine in the jeep which went into the river has now admitted that he crashed into one of the main struts of the bridge,” said the Minister of Works, the Hon. R. Semple, last night when referring to the recent collapse of a span of the Whirokino Bridge near Foxton recently. Mr. Semple said he had instructed the Main Highways Board to make a thorough investigation into the cause of the collapse. The collapsed span was being salvaged for that purpose. When, the jeep crashed into the strut it caused the span to collapse and the jeep and its occupants were carried into the river as it fell. An examination of the portions of the span so far recovered had shown that the timber was in as good order as could be expected from the age of the bridge, and there was no evidence to show that lack of maintenance in any way contributed towards the collapse. The bridge had been regularly inspected since-it was taken over from the county in 1937, and defective timber had been replaced where necessary. The last inspection was made on May 28, a few days before the accident on June 3. The bridge had been considered unsuitable from a traffic point of view for many years, and had it not been for the war would have been replaced by a reinforced concrete bridge. After the collapse it had been proposed to put a temporary span across and use the bridge again. It was felt, however, that no further risks should be taken with it, and instructions had been given that a new bridge was to be constructed as quickly as possible. A contract had already been let, and the contractor was getting men and plant on the job. The work would be pushed with the utmost expedition.