TRAFFIC BRIDGE.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 17982, 29 March 1930, Page 7

TRAFFIC BRIDGE.

DISTRICT'S URGENT NEED

GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE SOUGHT MINISTER SYMPATHETIC. The need for a second traffic bridge over the Waikato River in the vicinity of Hamilton was brought to the notice of_ the Minister of Public Works (Kon. E. A. 'Ransom) during ' is brief visit to Hamilton tins morning. The Minister was welcomed to the town by Mr J. A. Young. M.P., and his Worship the .Mayor (Mr J. R. Row). The deputation which waited upon him consisted of the Mayor and Messrs T. Hinton (Waikato County chairman), C. Macky (Waipa County chairman), and the engineers of the three bodies conuoerned, Messrs '* R. Worley (borough), A. A. Woodward (Waikato), and W. Civil (Waipa). Messrs W. Lee Martin and F. Lye, M.’sP., were also present. The Mayor pointed out that the town was under a grave disability in that there was only one main street, which had to carry, in addition to the town traffic, a great weight of through traffic. The present bridge was built 18 years ago, and it was not designed to carry modern traffic. A great' congestion sometimes occurred, which ■was aggravated by the fact that large numbers of stock were forced to use the bridge as the only connecting link between certain points. The suggestion iiad been made that as the present bridge could not cope with the growing traffic, a bridge should be erected at the northern end of the town. This could be used as a stock route, and also as an alternative route for the continuous , stream of tourist traffic that passed down the main street during the summer months. It would also help to distribute the great weight of heavy traffic.. It was suggested that the new bridge should be placed just outside .the borough boundary, but his Wore ship assured the Minister that \the town would cheerfully pay whatever was regarded as its fair proportion of the cost.

Structure to Cost £16,000

Mr T. Hinton (Waikato County chairman) said the Mayor had not exaggerated the position one whit. The country pebple, who dealt largely with stock, were anxious that something should be done .to relieve the present congestion. . His council ardently supported the proposal.

Mr C- Macky. (Waipa County chairman) said his' council also recognised that a second bridge was an urgent necessity, although his county wonld not benefit to the same extent as Waikato or the borough. Mr A. A. Woodward, Waikato County engineer, said the spot chosen for the bridge was the narrowest and best at which to construct a bridge. The structure wmuld be about 400 feet long, and the cost was estimated at £16,000. That portion of the county wga becoming very closely.settled, and the bridge would bring the settlers about four miles nearer to Frankton than at present. The type of bridge proposed was very similar to the one being erected by the Railway Department. at Ngaruawahia steel cylinders on concrete piles, with a steel truss and concrete decking. Mr R. Worley (Hamilton borough engineer) said the town was at present seriously handicapped by having only one bridge. Over 3000 vehicles crossed the bridge daily and when stockv jamhs occurred it was a common thing to see vehicles backed right up io- Victoria Street. "A new bridge at Iho spot proposed would form a great relief, and would be of national as well as local importance. The proposed bridge would have an 18ft. carriageway and a 6ft footpath. No great engineering difficulties wrnre presented. The site chosen was the narrowest point for a long distance, and as the roads on both sides ran alongside the river, the spot was ideal for such a bridge. Assistance Considered Warranted. Mr W. Le Martin, M.P., supported the proposal, and said the whole district would benefit as a result of a new bridge, which he considered was warranted. The whole of the outlying districts as as well as the town and its environs were affected. , Mr F. Lye, M.P., said the project had his- wholehearted support. Oil stock days and festive occasions great traffic jambs occurred, and he agreed with the engineer that the work could almost be regarded as a national one.

Mr J. A. Young agreed' that a second bridge was a very pressing need. There was no' difference of opinion as to where the bridge should go, and all the local bodies concerned were in agreement on all points concerning it. He strongly commended the request to the Minister, and suggested' that the basis of Government assistance should be nothing less than £1 for £1 on the total cost. The Minister said this was the first occasion on which the suggested bridge had officially been brought to his notice, though he had heard it discussed. He was rather surprised to hear that a bridge of .the character explained could be erected for the cost named. He was fully alive to the great progress which the district had made, and be agreed that facilities consonant with this progress were warranted- The question of the stock route was, of course, most important, but lie did not quite see how a bridge adjacent to the borough would overcome the difficulty or stock entering the town. The question of contribubution, saicl the Minister, was a matter that must receive careful consideration, and one phase would be as to .whether the Highways Board would declare the foads on each side of the river main highways. A contribution (would probably be on a more generous scale if it came through the Highways Board.

The Minister promised to give the representations very careful consideration,- and to go into the matter with the chairman of the Highways Board, to ascertain from which fund the contribution would be forthcoming. Assostance, he thought was undoubtedly warranted.