PIPIROA BRIDGE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5381, 30 January 1929, Page 2

PIPIROA BRIDGE.

c NOT WARRANTED YET. FERRY QUITE ADEQUATE. In reply to the; representations of the A.AA. through their Thamq? agent, Mr F. S. Miller, regarding the building of a bridge at Pipiroa, the Main Highways Board has sent the following letter;— - “With reference to your letter of November 28, addressed to the Mai 11 Highways Board on the occasion of its. visit to Thames, f have pow to reply concerning your representations that the; board proceed with, the " erection of a traffic bridge over the Piako River at Pipiroa.

“During the period July 11 to 17, 1928, a tally of the traffic crossing the ferry was taken. The total number of motor excluding inot'or-cycjes, which used) the ferry during that period amounted ta 175. In addition there were eight motorcrossed the fqrry, also a num,ber of cattle and .sheep.

“In the opinion of the Main Highways Board the limited amount .of traffic on the ferrv is adfequate to cater for it at the presept time. The estimated cost of the bridge is in the vicinity of £14,000, and the Main Highways Board regrets it is unable to proceed with its erection.

“Not only would the board and the, local authorities require to meet interest and sinking fund 1 on the capital cost, but it would also be necessary to have a keeper ta operate the Opening span,- so that the annual maintenance charge, apart from interest and sinking fund, would be somewhere about the same as the tunning cost of the ferry.

“You are aware, of course, that part of the cost would have to be found by the Hauraki Plains County Council, and the board is in receipt of adivice that while the whole council realises the desirability of a bridge, it does. ,not as a whole consider it a matter of urgency. The council goes on to say: ‘“The present ferry service seems to be quite able to cope successfully with all traffic, and as far as is known there has never been any undue delay in getting passengersacross, even at rush times. The ferry is a fast one, and at such times as there is likely to be ah extra rush of traffic an extra man is employed to collect fares. There is al'so, of course, an alternative route via Ngatea which entails an additional distance of eight miles.’ ” — Thames Star.