SHANNON BRIDGE

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 2913, 23 July 1925, Page 2

SHANNON BRIDGE

CONFERENCE OF LOCAL BODIES.

A meeting of representatives from Manawatu County, Horowhenun County and Shannon and Foxton boroughs was held at the Fox-(on-Shannon bridge site yesterday morning with a view of discussing ihe question of rebuilding- the bridge. About July of last year all the local bodies interested met at Shannon to consider measures for the safeguarding of the bridge over the Manawatu river on the EoxtonShannon road. A plan of the locality was made by the staff of the Manawalu-Oroita River Board, and later the engineers of the various local bodies, including the engineer-in-chief of the Public Works Department, met and examined the river for a distance of approximately a mile, partly above and partly below the bridge. Three schemes were considered, as follows :

(1) To shift the bridge downstream some 2d to 30 chains and there lengthen it. (2) To lengthen it where it now stands.

(3) To shift it upstream to a point just below the junction of the Toknmaru stream with the Manawatu River, and there lengthen it. . The engineers were of the opinion that No. 3 was the best solution of the difficulty, although in first co<t most expensive, the reason being that the site is on a portion of the river which appears to have been stable for some iime. It is above a very bad bend. Furthermore, the route suggested, crossing at the Makerua. junction, would shorten ihe distance between Foxton and Shannon by half a mile, and this is certainly a result which lias value, though possibly it would be difiieull io assess it in monetary value.

The delegates assembled inspected the* proposed new site, along with the old one, and after the position had been freely discussed, the following resolution, moved by Mr W. F. Barber (Mnnawaln) and seconded by Mr W. Murdoch (Shannon) was carried: “That, if the deputation from the ITorowhemm County Council to Air Furkerl gets no satisfaction as to what the Highways Board will do to assist, t lie Council, as a controlling body, lie requested to have plans and specifications prepared for a new bridge Hi! No. 3 site, as decided at the original meeting ai Shannon.’*