NEW TRAFFIC BRIDGE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4902, 13 November 1925, Page 2

NEW TRAFFIC BRIDGE.

RIVER STRUCTURE AT PAEROA. ■

DEPARTMENT SUBMITS PLANS.

Although the Paeroa Borough Council has recently effected minor repairs to the traffic bridge, commonly known as the Criterion Bridge, over the Ohinemuri River at Paeroa, it is egnerally recognised that the. structure is in a bad state of disrepair, and that .a new bridge will have to be erected in the near future. The allocation of the cost of - the new structure between the contributing : - local bodies and the Government is the chief bone of contention at the present time; ' ■ At last night’s meeting of the Paeroa Borough Council: a lengthy letter was received from the Engineer-in-. Chief, Public Works Department, cov- • ering plans and specifications for the erection ot a new traffic bridge. The plans provide for building the bridge at a level to fit in with the river stop-banking system, and the structure will have a roadway 18ft wide, and a footway in addition. The estimated cost of the work, including formation and metalling of the ’ approaches is given as £12,280, and ( the Minister has decided that the. basis of contribution should be: Wai- . hou and Ohinemuri River Improve- .- ment Fund, £3280 ; Public < Wofks Fund, £4500 ; Paeroa .Borough and Ohinemuri County, £4'5001 If the cost . . exceeded that sum, such additional cost would be apportioned on the - same basis. In a covering letter the engineer stated: “It is necessary for your council as the controlling authority to arrange with the Ohinemuri County Council the basis" of contribution by the two local bodies,.and for the. paying into the Public Account of .the necessary contribution, so .that steps . ; can then be token to proceed with the erection. As the urgency of this pro- . posed work is fully understood by your council I have no doubt that no time will be lost in completing these preliminaries.” After discussing the matter for a considerable time in committee the . council resolved : “That the council realises the desiraiblity for the erection of a new bridge, and approves of the department erecting the bridge subject to there being a considerable reduction in the contributions asked for from the local bodies ; and that this council agrees to meet the Ohinemuri County Council in conference to go further into the matter.” *