THE TAIPO BRIDGE CONTRACT.

Kumara Times, Issue 2891, 11 January 1886, Page 3

THE TAIPO BRIDGE CONTRACT.

The work in connection with the building of this bridge is in a much more advanced stage than might be expected, considering the loss and drawback the contractors sustained a month ago by the sudden and heavy fresh in the river, which carried away nearly all their gear. Most of (his was recovered, is in position again, and may now be regarded as secure from being again washed away. The bridge will have five spans—four of 110 feet each, and one of 30 feet. It will cross the river nearly in a line with the front of MTnerney’s Hotel, N.E. by N., and S.W. by S. by the compass, so that there will be a slight curve to the left, in the approach to the bridge from the western or Hokitika side of the river.' The first pier at the south-western end will consist of concrete foundation. The next four piers will each consist of two cylinders Bft. in diameter at the bottom and 6ft. at the top (36ft. altogether in length), and will be sunk on an average 20ft. below low-water level. The cylinders will be filled with cement concrete. Each cylinder has to be made up of three lengths, Bft. deep and 6ft. in diameter, of one tapering 4ft, deep, and of one bottom ring Bft. deep. The sixth pier will have four piles and a cap-piece with iron strops. The 110 ft. spans will consist of a pair of trusses, having top and button) cords, the top cord being of a width of 2ft. by a depth of 12in., and the bottom cord a width of 2ft, Bin., by a depth of 125 n. These cords will rest on the top of corbels 30ft. long, 32in. wide, and 12in. deep. The trusses consist of strutting, long tension rods, and iron bar straining ' blocks. There will he forty-four top-lies on trusses at an 'elevation of 14ft. above the floor of the bridge, with braces, which will be 7ft. clear at the heads. The total length of the bridge without the approaches will be 470 feet, and the width of roadway 14ft. All the timber to be used in tbe construction of tbe budge, which consists principally of heart of black pine, was obtained in the immediate neighbourhood of the river. The timber and the cylinders have been supplied by Government. The approaches to the bridge are to consist of 2000 yards of excavation on the Hokitika or western side of the river, and 2000 yards of embankment, and 1000 yards of protection or stonefacing on the Christchurch or eastern side of the river.

A? soon as the necessary machinery his arrived for sinking the cylinders, the work of filling-in with concrete will commence. At the present time three first portions of cylinders have been placed in position ready f'oi sinking. The. bridge will pruo.vUy take eight

or nine months to conpUte; but it is in good hands, and we have no doubt when completed it will last for generations. So that the crossing of the river “Taipo” will then no longer deserve the appellation which the Natives gave it—“ the devil ; ” hut the Taipo River will be crossed by cattle, horsemen, and vehicles, by the safest and best-constructed bridge between the East and West Coast of the Middle Island.