NEW RAILWAY BRIDGE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4840, 12 June 1925, Page 2

NEW RAILWAY BRIDGE.

GOOD PROGRESS MAINTAINED. Satisfactory progress is being maintained on the construction of the new railway bridge over the Ohinemuri River at Paeroa. A visit of inspection to the site yesterday revealed that both sets of piers have been driven to a little above water-level, and the set nearest to the left bank has its super-struc-ture of twenty squared piles almost completed, the work on it having had to be delayed this week as the river has been running above normal watermark. When the water recedes sufficiently in the river the work will, be completed and the punt moved across the river to allow work on the piles for the super-structure on the right bank to be undertaken.

At present a set of twelve piles is being driven on the slant of the left bank to an average depth of forty feet. Two. more similar sets havt yet to be driven inland on that side of the bank. Ample material for the construction of the timber portion of the bridge appeans to be coming to hand, and it should not be long before the pile-driving machinery can be moved and work completed on the northern bank and approach. When it is explained that every pile requires to be shod with steel shoes, and is cradled for some ten feet from the driving point, the thoroughness of the undertaking can better be understood. Up to the present the pile-driving operations have been canied out with satisfaction, and no great difficulty has been experienced in reaching a good foundation. It is worthy of record tliat the Railway Department is taking particular precaution to guard against erosion of either bank aft§£ the structure is completed. It has been estimated that, given reasonable weather, the work on the under-structure should be sufficient!} advanced in about three months’ time to receive the huge steel girdeis required t(i strengthen the bridge so as to carry a double set of rails. A large gang of men is at present employed on the job, and long hours are being worked to hasten the construction of the bridge. Much filling still remains to be done on both approaches, and it is understood that this work will be pushed on with as soon as the men at present engaged on the construction of Taylor’s Avenue and Moore Road can be releaseu from that work.