SERIOUS VIEW TAKEN OF BRIDGES IN RANGITIKEI COUNTY

Wanganui Chronicle, 4 July 1947, Page 6

SERIOUS VIEW TAKEN OF BRIDGES IN RANGITIKEI COUNTY

A serious view of the condition ot timber bridges in the Rangitikei County was taken by the engineer, Mr. H. Munray Reid, in a report to the council at its monthly meeting in Marton yesterday. He indicated that many of them lint been h. paired from time to to time, but were now beyond this stage and could no longer be regarded witli safety. As they were required to carry ever-increasing loads, trouble was likely before long. After the chairman, Cr. K. Vl'. Dalrymple, and other councillors had stressed the need for the council going ahead with its bridge renewal programme as soon as possible, Mr. Heid’s report was approved and he was authorised to obtain an engineer's assistant to help with the preparation of plans for new bridges. Advice was also received tnat Cabinet had approved of subsidies of £1 for £1 being granted for the county's five-year bridge programme. Representations on behalf of the council were made to the Government by Mr. P. Kearins, M.P. for Waimarino.

Mr. Reid recalled that in August, 1945, Mr. S. A. R. Mair, then county engineer, prepared a list of 25 bridges which should have been renewed by 1950, at an estimated cost of £44,000. Of these, only four had been completed in two years. In addition to county bridges, there were about 15 triages on main highways which had not been taken into account. Their condition was just as poor, and their replacement equally urgent. The replacement of bridges in the county was long overdue and the council was faced with the problem of overtaking 15 years' rebuilding in a matter ot a few years. This would necessitate a wholehearted effort on the part oi the council and its engineei'.’ng staff. “Though all building materials are in short supply at present, I considei tnat an immediate start should be made with the preparation of detailed plans and. specifications and estimates tor approval by the Public Works Department,” Mr. Reid added. “This would place us in a position which would enable the county to take an immediate advantage of any increase in supplies." Mr. Reid said he had been through the list with Mr. Mair and considered that there were 12 bridges of No. J priority which should be replaced immediately The estimated time for completing these proposals was two to thrbe years, and the work could not be done w.lhout considerable assistance. Numerous other structures would be in the No. 1 priority category by the end of another two years, and the engineering staff would be exceptionally busy in coping with bridge replacements alone. Recommending that he be given authority to engage temporary assistance and the services of consultantsior some of the major undertakings, Mr Reid said that unless the council could overtake during the next few yeais much of the leeway of 15 years, it would always be in arrears witii briage work. As a result, money would continually be wasted on uneconomic work. The chairman said that obviously there was more work to be done than the county engineer and one assistant engineer could cope with. More assistance was needed.

Cr. G. L. Marshall: Are main highway bridges our concern?

The chairman: Yes, but we are not concerned with State highways.

“My idea, if we can't do tne work at present, is to get the proposals through. This represents 90 per cent, of any such undertaking,” Mr. Rem said. He believed that the council should call tenders for three or four bridges at a time, and thus induce first-class bridge-builders to bring their plant and equipment into the district. Sufficient work would be guaranteed for 10 years and the county would be well served. The council also needed the services ot an engineerine consultant who would be engaged on bridge work all the time. At present, however, the engineering staff had so much other work that it could not deal adequately with all bridge requirements. The chairman: You also mentioned an engineering assistant. “There is a tremendous amount of preparation to be done and we need an engineering assistant who would be engaged temporarily to help with surveys and draughting work," said Mr. Reid. “There is so much detail that we can't attend to it all.” The chairman: I move that the engineer be authorised to engage an engineering assistant. Cr. G. L. Marshall (seconding the motion): I think that that is absolutely necessary. “This is a matter of geal urgency and we must push on with our bridge renewal programme,” said Cr. V. Smith. “I have always said that it has been delayed too long, though not through any fault of the council. If plans were pt-epared now we could go ahead when materials became available. The steel and cement famine can’t last for ever." The chairman: Practically all county councils are in the same position. , . The motion moved by the chairman was carried and the council decided to go ahead with the Bridge renewal programme as soon as possible.