ROADS AND BRIDGES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 58, 3 April 1946, Page 5

ROADS AND BRIDGES

IMPOSING WORKS SCHEDULE ESTIMATED COST OF £262,511 Thus an extract of the Engineer’s report submitted to the Whakatane County Council last week:— A schedule of works has been drawn up and submitted to the District Engineer embracing the renewal of 21 bridges, 1 3-4 miles of road construction and 47' miles of sealing. The total cost of the work amounts to £262,511, and the period of time in which it would be carried out depends entirely on the amount of subsidy found by the Government. “This is certainly looking well ahead,” said the chairman (Mr J. L. Burnett) “but I consider it very necessary that we should go well into the whole subject especially in connection with the question of bridges” Cr Luxton agreed that the bridge question was one which required the fullest consideration. There were a lot of unsatisfactory bridges on the Rangitaiki, many having been built years ago when materials and construction were not of the best. They would need a thorough investigation and he personally was very pleased to see the matter taken up. Cr McGougan mentioned the Opouriao bridge which he declared was actually in danger of collapsing unless something were done to improve it. It would be a serious thing for both Opouriao and Ruatoki, if those districts were cut off by the only road access across the river. - The chairman said that they could await the outcome of the present representations to the Government, and see just how far they could go with replacements.