A NEW BRIDGE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2372, 30 January 1915, Page 8

A NEW BRIDGE

I ON WAIRARAPA SOUTH MAIN j ROAD. A. fine, reinforced concrete bridge haß just been oompleted for the Wairarapa South County Council on. the Mam North lload, about midway between Greytown and Carterton. The bridge spans the Waiohino ltiver, and replaces fee old wooden structure built over thirty years ago, and now unsafe for traffic. The new bridge is constructed entirely of reinforced concrete. It consists of four spans of 60ft. each; and is of the type known as '"ribbed slab." The five reinforced concrete piers are carried on reinforced concrete piles, driven deep into the river-bed. The ribs, of which there are three in each span, arefive feet deep' by 18-inches thick; and the 'deck or slab is eight inches thick. The parapets are also of reinforced concrete, the panels having six-inch openings, alternating with four inch closed work, and giving a handsome finish to the superstructure. The roadway of the bridge is 18ft. wide between' kerbs, which affords amplo room for'the largest vehicles to pass with ease. Tho roadway itself is made of broken metal, blinded and heavily rolled to a smooth and solid surface. . The reinforcing steel employed throughout was the "indented steel bar." The bridge,, is approached on wide and heavy embankments, the roadway of which is finished in the same manner as that of tho bridge itself. The cohtract was accepted in February last year, and was completed within contract time. It was intended to open tho bridge on February 1, but as the old bridge was rendered impassable by the washing away of its approaches,- the council decided to admit the traffic on New Year's Day. The total oost of the brido and approaches was just under £4950. The engineer for tho works was Mr. G. Laing-Meason, M.1.C.E., of Wellington, and the contractor wa3 Mr. W. D. M'Calmont, of Masterton. The work of removing tho old bridge has com menccd, and in a few weeks the old land-mark known as tho "Black Bridge" will bo gone.