NO NEW TRAFFIC BRIDGE EXPECTED FOR 15 YEARS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 15, Issue 14, 24 March 1950, Page 5

NO NEW TRAFFIC BRIDGE EXPECTED FOR 15 YEARS

Delegates from the County and Borough Councils were somewhat shocked when they were told that the present main traffic bridge over the Whakatane River to the town is expected to have a life of about another 15 years and that it is not expected that a new structure will be built before then, by the chair- / man of the Main Highways Board, .Mr P. Trevor Smith, when delegates met the Board in a short meeting at Whakatane on Monday. Mr :Smith .said that a new bridge had never been considered to replace the present structure and in reply to questions he would not give any ■ definite answer 'as to where any possible new bridge was likely to be built, although he indicated that, at the present time, the Board preferred a site just above the present one.

This information was' given by Mr Smith in reply to the borough council’s delegate, the Mayor, x Mr B. S. Barry, who asked that when the new bridge site was being con- ~ sidered one opposite the *Whaka- ' tane Board Mills be given some consideration. He pointed out that the Whakatane Borough and County Councils and the Whakatane Harbour Board were in favour of the site and gave various reasons why they supported it. He also mentioned why the same three bodies objected to the proposed site above the present bridge. Preferred Present Site The Board would prefer the traffic bridge to stay where it is although no new structure had yet been considered. Mr Smith said. He did not think /there would be a new bridge for some time yet as the present one was thought to have a life of a further 15 years. Mr Barry: By then there won’t be any bridge. The town will be isolated. * ! ' Mr Smith: I think it will last. He added that from the point of •view of the main highways he thought the bridge should stay where it is. However, he could not .give any definite answer.

Some decision as to where any new bridge might be going was •wanted now, th,e chairman of the Whakatane County Council, Mr J. L. Burnett, pointed out, as it was holding up development in the borough and the adjoining county area.

From the Board’s point of view ■the site would be the present one but he could not give anything definite as the proposal had not been -considered, Mr Smith replied. Mr Barry mentioned that it was holding up the town planning scheme and subdivision of land for ibuildmg purposes. Mr Burnett then appealed to the Board to treat tile position as urgent. “If you can give us any indication you will not hold up the development of the borough,” he pointed out. Mr Smith said that the Board had not made any decision and could •not do so yet as it was such a long time before the .new bridge was likely to be built. He did not see how any decision could be made when the bridge could not be expected for another 10 to 15 jyears. Subdivision Delayed Mr Barry emphasised again that subdivision of land for building was being held up near Bridge Street and he asked what could be done now.

The Board had the power to ask the Lands and Survey Department not to approve of any subdivision that might interfere with a bridge approach or main highway, Mr Smith said. The position was, then, that the man wanting to subdivide would have to wait for another 15 years until the Board had made up its mind about the bridge, Mr Barry questioned. Mr Smith replied that that was about the position as it stood at present.