WAIPAWA COUNTY

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 97, 11 May 1937, Page 3

WAIPAWA COUNTY

Our Own Correspondent).

WORK DONE ON BRIDGES AND ROADS

(From

WAIPAWA, This Day. The following is the ' report submitted at the monthly meeting of tha Waipawa County Council by the engineer, Mr. Y. E. Douglas: — ■ Waipawa Biding. i Two culverts on the Makaroro road are being dealt with. The metalling of approjdmately two chains of road near the school at Takapau was ipspected. The road could be re-formed and metalled for approximately £6. The approach to Rumbal's bridge c was inspected with Cr. Butler, and I* consider the visibility to be adequate considering the type of road. It is possible to see the full length of the bridge while two chains away. Howaver, it would be possible to still further improve visibility by taking some two feet off a mound, and moving a notice board. The far end of the Makaroro road was graded during the , mo*C&. Ongaonga Biding. The cutting back .of corners on Blackburn Bidge road was completed. The Pendle Hill Toad -was pat?hed and will be graded " shortly. Some patching was carried out on the Springhill Toad. ■ Two 1 culverts were installed on the hill road leading to Hnll's Slab. The proposed straightening of the creek near Fairfield was inspected "with the xiding members' and the "owners concerned. Grading was done on the Lookout road; Blackburn cross road and Blackburn xidge road. Clinton Biding.

The metalling of the far end of Blaek's road beyond the culvert which was widened last month was completed and some patcMng "was carried out on the hill section. It has not yet been possible to caTry out the repairs authorised at last meeting. The Makare-tu-Clinton road was patched, and this work is stai proceeding. Arrangements have been made to put the caterpillar grader on this section in an attempt to straighten up the road generally. Takapau Biding: Metalling was done on Patilsen's road and- Nancy street, Takapau. , . Main Brldgee.

A shingle bapk was built with the winch and scoop in an attempt to divert the stream away from' the bank at Balfour 's bridge. The cost was low, and up to date appears to be acting satisfactorily. A stone apron was installed to protect the weak embankment. O'Callaghhn's bridge: The approaches to O 'Callaghans bridge are proceeding, but the work has been delayed by wet weather. The approaches to Carlyon 's bridga have been completed satisfactorily, and the bridge is now open to traffic. The two abut* ments at McLeod's ; bridge have been completed, and the erection of the deck is proceeding; Fletcher's crossing bridge has been inspected, and is in a very bad state, particularly the half on the Wakarara side. A plan has been prepared showing the present condition, and it appears fairly dbvious that Nos. 3, 4 and 5 piers and the Wakarara abutments have sabsided to varying degrees. The root cause of the trouble is no doubt defective foundations. It is obvious that any repairs without improvement of the foundation would be useless, as further settlement would almost surely take place. Tho strengthening of tha, foundation of the existing bridge would be an expensivo and difllcnlt process, and would still leave a weak and damaged superatructure. The Pendle Hill snspension bridge has been put in orde% Some of the linlc baTs between blocks had fallen out with a consequent movement of the blocks and displacemen* of the suspension rods., Main Highways.

Napier-Palmerston State Highway:— The majority of the work Qn this highway during the month has been carried out on the Takapau Plains section, repairing faulty sections which were excavated and filled. Adequate drainage was provided. A considerable amount of work is necessary to deal with sections which have failed. Patching was done on the Te Aut.n section, and the Tailway crossing sign and the centre lines on corners* were repainted on the Waipuknrau section. Fernhill-Takapau Main Highway:— Bepairs were carried out to the wirenetting on Gwavas Slab. Protective work at the Manganouku bridge was undertaken, Proposals for reconstruction of one mile of road through Tikokino have not yet been approved. Waipawa-Pourerere Main Highway: A slip which encroadied on the road was clearedj and water-tables are being cleared. Metalling was re-commenced on the portion of tliis road ■ being reconstructed,* aiid about half a mile has been completed. Waipawa-Ongaonga Main Highway: The straightening of tho foundations of thp mile being reconstructed by the addition of pit. metal wari complotod during the month.