MIKONUI TRAMWAY TRAFFIC BRIDGE.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 September 1918, Page 2

MIKONUI TRAMWAY TRAFFIC BRIDGE.

OFFICIAL OPENING TO-DAY.

The Alikonui Tramway Traffic Bridgo is being opened to-day, the contract having boon passed during tlie week. T he bridge in question was undertaken originally by Alessrs Stuart and Chapman Ltd, who have large timber areas south of the river for milling purposes. The Company is erecting a large sawmill adjacent to tho Ross raihvnvstation, and ultimately the logs will be brought to the mill from the south side of tlie Alikonui river for milling purposes. Tjho bridge _ was thus designed to carry heavy traffic, including steam engine, and heavily laden trucks. When it was found that the Government would not not go on with the erection of a road traffic bridge, estimated to cost £B,OOO the Company offered the 'Westland County Council as the local body concerned, to design the tramway bridge "so as to carry ordinary wheel traffic as well, and provide necessary road approaches, for a payment of £I6OO spread over eighteen months, the local body to take over the future maintenance of the structure, also, for traffic purposes, and to be liable for cost of restoration in the event of Hood damage. The County Council accepted the proposals, realising the necessity of the bridge, and the great draw back to South Westland in waiting for the long deferred Government action. The bridge lias now materialised. The Alikonui Road and Railway Bridge, as completed, is six hundred and eighty six feet six inches, (nearly ten and a half chains) in length. The bridge consists of twelve spans of thirty-three feet each, nine spans of twenty-six feet six inches in length, and two land spans of twenty-six feet in length. The piles are of sound I Australian iron bark, three piles in each pier, the upstream and downstream piles in all piers being driven ona rake of one in twelve to ensure greater stability. Tlie caps, walings and corbels, also centre stringers of . short spans, are Australian hardwood. The thirty-three feet spans are constructed with two centre solid steel girders nineteen and a half inches in depth aiid seven and a half inches in width on top and bottom flanges; the outer stringers being inner heart of rimu sixteen,.inches in depth and eight inches in width. The sheathing of all piers are eight hv two, heart of rimu; handrails standards and struts, decking are of the same timber of the best quality, and out at_ the Ruatapu Mili. The pier and stringer bracing, south pier abutment are all sound heart of silver pine. The railing for fencing is four by two of rimu and the posts silver pine of good quality. The northern approach to the bridge is about twenty chains in length, and tho southern approach road twelve chains. The bridge spans a river that has" been a menace to traffic for many a long day. It waters have claimed several victims, while all too . frequently its flooded waters have held up traffic. Traffic to and from South Westland has increased very greatly of late years, and this river has been one of the .bugbears of the southern journey. This lias been so especially since motor traffic lias become popularand a necessity of the newer order of things. The presence of the bridge will bo a boon to southern traffic, and is an indication of the solid advancement in the south eountrv which is prospering so greatly. The Alikonui river is on the threshold of the South journey ._ and many a trip south lias been prevented thus early on the wav to the promising pastoral lands of the south. The bridge is of neat design, and is finished in a workmanlike way. There are good wide, approaches to tli© bridge. the whole of the works being carried out very faithfully by Alessrs Smart and Chapman Ltd,, who had Air R. -I. Scott as the foreman in charge of the bridgeworks, while All* ,). Chapman was in charge of the approaches and other earth works giving access to the bridgo. The tramway , line runs from Ross across the bridge, and is destined to bo carried on to the firm’s mill at Bold Head, whence milled timber will be exported shortly.