HIGHLY DANGEROUS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 6, Issue 59, 26 March 1943, Page 5

HIGHLY DANGEROUS

EDGECUMBE RIVER BRIDGE HIGHWAYS BOARD RESPONSIBLE ' The dangerous state of the Edgecumbe river bridge was brought forcibly to the notice of the Whakatane County Council last Tuesday when the Edgecuinbe School Committee wrote drawing attention to the grav<> risk run by all children attempting to use it when vehicles were passing. The. writer stated that at the last meeting of the committee some considerable discussion took place regarding the very unsafe condition of the bridge crossing the Rangitaiki River near the. Dairy Factory. The council was asked.to place such matter before the Main Highways Board, without delay. The council was undoubtedly aware . that the bridge was extremely unsafe for pedestrians, especially school children, because of its narrowness,, its Aery delapidated state of repair and the amount of vehicular traffic it is carrying. It Avas requested that a foot brdge be constructed on one side of the brdge as soon as possible. Gr Hunter said that stock using the bridge had so pushed the rails over that they now only swung in the air. Owing to the narrowness of the bridge children Avere forced when a heavy lorry passed to stand oil the. side runners and AA r ere in danger of slipping through. There certainly should be some provision for a sidewalk and the Avhole bridge in any case Avas due for removal'. Cr McCracken agreed that the structure was in a bad state, much of the. under decking haA r ing rotted right through. The council decided to AA r rite the District Engineer (P.W.D.) urging that the bridge be replaced Avith a more adequate structure and that a side Avalk for pedestrians be. provided, further that this official be iin-ited to inspect the bridge, in company Avith Crs McCracken and Hunter and members of the School Committee.