HUTT PIPE BRIDGE

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 11, 8 October 1943, Page 6

HUTT PIPE BRIDGE

Marines Directing’ Traffic

United States. Marines have begun to control the traffic across the Hutt pipe bridge, and some civilian drivers have wondered how Americans came to be directing New Zealand The Wellington city engineer, Mr. K. E. Luke, explained yesterday, that, the Wellington City Council had arranged for the American’s to give directions to civilian traffic while they were stationed at the bridge to direct their own traffic. Control of traffic was necessary to preserve the safety of the bridge, and he. hoped the public would conform to the directions. The bridge, which was built abonf 35 years ago, was designed as a combmed pipe and road bridge when there were few motor-cars, and traffic as ' fast and as heavy as the bridge carried even before the outbreak of war was unthought of. Since the beginning of the war the bridge had had to carry even heavier, faster and more vehicles. ' Engineers had decided that the bridge was safe, but that it would be’damaged if the traffic were to use it without control. American vehicles formed a large portion of the traffic and the American authorities had agreed to station men at. the bridge to control the weight, spacing and speed of their vehicles, and they had* agreed also to direct at the same time other vehicles, which was necessary for-the full benefit to be obtained from what they were doing. .. Mr. Luke said the bridge was being repaired, but because of the shortage of labour the work could not be rushed., The bridge would remain safe, as long as the public was reasonable in its use. If they were not they would have to be diverted elsewhere. Notices were being! put up,- and the American authorities were voluntarily directing the traffic. It was to be hoped that the civilian traffic would follow the directions. , A conference of local bodies interested in it as a road bridge was likely to be called in the near future because extensive work might be necessary. ■ When this matter was referred to the chairman of the council of the automobile association, Mr. E. A. Batt, Sir. Batt, said that the association had realized for some time the necessity for taking such steps as would ensure the preservation of the pipe bridge, and the safety of those’ using it. It was in the interest of motorists themselves to co-operate with the authorities in keeping the strain on tlie-bridge as low as possible in the circumstances, and the association asked that - motorists conform to the special conditions at present .applying while repairs were being made.