NEW EDGECUMBE BRIDGE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 39, 11 June 1947, Page 5

NEW EDGECUMBE BRIDGE

“PLAINS ARE READY” MR SEMPLE’S ASSURANCE . 1 “It is on the list to be built and it is just a matter of’ how soon we can get the reinforcing steel and cement. The only thing holding us up is the lack of material.” This assurance that the old wooden traffic over the Rangitaiki River at Edgecumbe would be replaced at an early date was given by the Minister of Works, Mr :Semple, in replying to representations made to him on Thursday by the Whakatane County Council. The chairman, Mr J. L. Burnett, -explained to Mr Semple that the Edgecumbe bridge had been severely damaged by the flood a few years ago. ' The settlers near Edgecumbe. were perturbed lest the bridge might be swept away *if another flood came. The council knew that the department had plans for another bridge, but wished to know how soon work would be commenced.

I Cr W. Hunter, speaking for Edgecumbe settlers, said the bridge had been built in 1920 when the railway line was put through. The piles were of bluegum cut locally, so that they were merely saplings and not proper hardwood timber. Because the bed of the river had been scoured out there was now Bft. less of the piles in the earth, than when the bridge was built. This bridge carried more traffic than any other bridge in the city, including numerous cream and timber lorries. “We feel that if we get another fresh in the river the bridge will go out to sea,” added Cr Hunter. Mr Semple: A new bridge has been designed and plans are ready. Our engineers know that it is a very bad bridge and that it is dangerous. It is only standing up by force of habit. When reinforcing and cement became available this would be one of the first bridges to be replaced. Lack -of material, said Mr Semple, was the xinly thing holding up the work.