MANY OLD BRIDGES

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 147, 17 March 1939, Page 8

MANY OLD BRIDGES

Heavy Building Programme Ahead HIGHWAYS BOARD’S WORK “Most of the old bridges iu New Zealand arc at the end of their useful life, many having been built about 50 years, and their reputations are all that are keeping them alive,” said Mr. M. H. Wynyard, motorist’s representative on the Main Highways Board, in ti report at the half-yearly meeting of the North Island Motor Union iu Wellington yesterday. The board was faced with a heavy building programme said Mr. Wynyard, and it had not been able to make much headway previously as it was a specialized work and the designing staff had for some time been busy on aerodromes and other defence work. There was also a difficulty in obtaining steel. Even so, the board bad actually built a larger length of bridges in New Zealand during the last year than at any other period in its history. Another phase of the board’s work which had eaten into its finances was the elimination of railway crossings. Many had been eliminated in the North Island to the advantage of the public and the greater safety of road-users. Assistance had been received from the Employment Promotion Fund but that was likely to come to the end in the near future, which would mean that a larger amount would have to be found from the board’s funds.

Mr. Wynyard was thanked for his report and for his work on the board in the interests of motorists.