SITE OF NEW BRIDGE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 38, 9 June 1947, Page 5

SITE OF NEW BRIDGE

HARBOUR BOARD INQUIRY REQUEST TO MINISTER Information as to where the Public Works Department proposes to construct a hew bridge across the Whakatane river to replace the 40-year-old bridge was sought by the chairman of the Whakatane Harbour Board, Mr W. R. Boon, when the Minister of Works, Mr Semple, met local body members on Thursday. It was important for the Harbour Board to know the site of the new bridge and its approaches, said Mr Boon. It was understood that the new Whakatane-Tauranga highway and the new bridge would cross the mudflats near the town. This land was part of the board’s endowments. The board was holding up the subdivision of its endowments until it knew where the new highway would go. Mr Semple replied that provision had been made for a new bridge and approaches, but he had not the details of the plan. This information would be made available to the harbour board in a few days. Mr W. Sullivan, M.P., explained to the Minister that the present bridge had been condemned by departmental engineers years ago. Mr Semple: Yes, it condemned itself. He added that the 10-year plan for the Bay of Plenty region included extensive improvements to the Whakatane-Tauranga highway.