Little Waitaha River Road Bridge.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 September 1920, Page 2

Little Waitaha River Road Bridge.

'lucre is a general leeiuig ot satisIhjlloil uial> aic ul, iasl noiUg —lui in© Laxtie v* aiuma/nver roacl laiugt.. rue u iuib neon, in uneyaxiee over a very rung tune, mat it is now oeuig canon in mana is an earnest or tne Government's interest in tne as well as in tne other bridges lurther soutu. i\oi doubt tne general concern manuested in the bridge arising out of tlie late visit of the 1-Togress League lias helped to l ocus this .work on the official mind, and to lead up to the de- ' suable action now announced. The people who are aware of the local conditions in the south will appreciate the action of the Hon J. G. Coates, Minister of Public Works, in authorising that tenders be called, and no doubt a work of this character will attract good competition in tendering, so tliat it should be safest© anticipate that the work -will be well in hand before Christmas time, and the bridge contract be finished Jby Easter time. This will mean that-the bridge will be available for general traffic before next winter sets in. The plans for the proposed structure are now on view at the local Post Office, and inspection shows that the bridge will be about 607 feet in length. It will consisit of five piers, 2 of 61.5 and 3 of • 61.7. Each pier consists of three hardwood piles, the longest piles being 48 feet and the shortest 30 feet. The northern end of the bridge will be an abutment resting on the solid reef-face into which the bridge is graded to re< duce the cutting through the high bank which overlooks the Little Waitaha river at the point. The deviation, road from the main south road at'the top of Black George’s bill to the site for the bridge, upstream' from the present wire is now being made. It is

understood, however, that the excavation to be made for the cutting will be carried across the constructed bridge subsequently to form the southern approach, which will be a considerable embankment. The bridge itself will be constructed on a grade of 1.44 having the incline south. • The piles, caps, chords ets. for the bridge are to be of ironbark, and the band-railing and decking of silver pine or totara. The bridge will be a standard structure capable of taking traction engine traffic. Hhe ironbark and steel tension rods, as well as the piles and shoes, will be supplied by the Public Works Department at Greymouth. The timber deck is to be tarred and asphalted. Six months from the time of signing

the contract is the period for the erection of the bridge, and the penalty for delay £5 per week. A deposit of £SO is called for, with a bond of £2OO. Tenders close on the 30th inst, so that the bridge itself should be completed within the month of April. The will be a subsequent contract, but the. bridge should be open for traffic before mid-winter.