CRITERION BRIDGE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5218, 19 December 1927, Page 3

CRITERION BRIDGE.

ERECTION OF STEEL WORK.

POSSIBLE COMPLETION IN MARCH

Work is proceeding apace on the -new Criterion traffic bridge over the Ohinemuri River at Paeroa- The whole of the steel work, totalling over 110 tons, has now been received, and no time is being lost in placing it intp permanent position. Aready four 30ft steel spans are in position, and have been riveted and set on mortar beds provided on the concrete piers, while one pair of 60ft steel girders has been put into position and the transpmes bolted down ready for the final riveting, while the final riveting of the 30 ft spans is in progress. The 60ft girders weigh 6 tons 2cwt. each, and are made up of four steel plates measuring 15ft by 6ft, and are threeeighths of an inch thick. They are stiffened on the top by 6ft by 6ft %in angle iron- These huge girders, which were shipped by scows from the Public Works Department’s workshops at Tauranga, are bolted together temporarily at the Puke workshops, placed on barges, and towed up the river to the bridge site. At high tide the steel girder is lifted from the barge in one piece by means of a crane and manoeuvred into position on the beds provided on the top of the pier-heads. This work requires considerable skill -and judgment, .and the way the massive piece of steel is so easily handled is very interesting to watch.

On the Te Aroha side of the river the boxing for provision of the 30ft reinforced concrete spans is practically finished, and .with favourable weather and reasonably good luck the department expects to have the bridge completed and ready for traffic towards the end of March next.