Dangerous Bridge Replaced.

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 21, 18 October 1937, Page 12

Dangerous Bridge Replaced.

The new and qp-to-date concrete bridge erected over tho Manawatu river on the Wellingtou-Napier highway botween Norsewood and the Otawhao biock is now in use. The new structuro is bujlt on the site of the old bridge, which waa a qne-way bridge with a sharp bend of the road approaching it on the southern end, and also a bend with a baiik which ob3tructed the view of any approaching vehicle, cattle or sheep, until pracfcically on the bridge at the northern end, The old bridge was the scene of many aceidents and a bugbear to all wlio had to use it, On one occasion a lorry heavily laden with timber, on rounding the bend from the northern end, swerved on to tbe bridge, struck the sitle, breaking it away, and topplod 2H feei on to the riyerbed, lauding upside down. The timber, which wa.jS well chained, did not become clisplactHl and thus prevented the cab of the lorry from being crushed in, enabling the driver to emerge unhurt. Tho improvement by deviatlng from ilu> old winding road at the gorge, which was a big undertaking and conipletcd early

last year, now makes the approaches to the new bridge — a two-way one with ample passing room — straight on with an unobstructed view from either end for a considerable distance. Later the deviation will be tar-sealed. The recently completed concrete bridge over tbe Butcher Creek, erected in place of the old structure which collapsed through the heavy flooding of the stream, is also a big improvement.