SHANNON BRIDGE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 2847, 17 February 1925, Page 3

SHANNON BRIDGE.

MAIN HIGHWAYS BOARD’S ATTITUDE. ROAD MAY BE DECLARED NOT MAIN HIGHWAY. - The following letter received from Mr J. Hannon, District Engineer to the Public Works Department, was before the Horowhenua County Council at Saturday’s meeting (says the Levin Chronicle) “In connection with-., the question of re-bridging the Manawatu River I have been instructed by the Main Highways Board to advise the local bodies concerned that when the animal review of roads to be declared Main Highways is being made in April next, there is a possibility of this road being deleted from the list of highways in view of the fact that it is not considered to possess tlie same national importance as other highways and also in view of the fact that there is direct communication between Shannon and Palm,erston North. “It is important that local autliori ties should consider this aspect wlicn dealing with the question of restoration of means of communicsition other than the punt, which Ims already been built.

“The Board decided at its last meeting to contribute one-third of the cost of erecting the punt and constructing the approach roads therto.”

The Chairman (Cr. G. A. Monk) stated that at the conference recently held at Shannon it was decided that a new bridge should lie built. The question touched upon in this letter had been raised at that meeting. Regarding the re-building of (lie new bridge, if this road were cut out of the main highways scheme, which was not likely, at least half of the money for the bridge would have to tie supplied by Government grant. It was certain that the bridge could not he built otherwise. He was extremely doubtful that the road would be taken out of Ihe highways scheme. It had been recommended by the District Council after very serious consideration and very serious ' reasons would have to ho brought forward before it would be possible to remove it from the list. He did not think for a moment that the Main Highways Board was throwing but this suggestion from any desire to avoid paying their share towards the reconstruction of the Shannon Bridge, which in the total expenditure involved throughout the country was a mere flea bite, but the fact remained that such a move was undid consideration, and it behoved the local bodies interested to see (hat adequate protest was made. This road was the direct means of communication between the railway and the port of Poxton, and they would have to do what they could to retain it. This view -was unanimously agreed with by the Council.