NEW BULLS BRIDGE

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4426, 13 March 1930, Page 3

NEW BULLS BRIDGE

; LOWjER SITE FAVOURED.

A further development in connection with the proposed new bridge at Bulls was announced at Tuesday’s meeting of the Manav/atu County Domicil when the decision arrived at by a conference of delegates from the Rangitikei /and Manawatu County Councils was released. This conference was held on February 28 lash-when correspondence between the Rangitikei County Council and the Main High - ways Board regarding the question of site and subsidy on the proposed new structure was read. A report on the upper and lower bridge sites, made on April 9 last year by Mr. A. J. Baker and addressed to the Engineer-in-Chief, Public Works Department, was read and following a discussion the following resolution was carried:—

“That the representatives of the Raiigitikei and Manawatu County Councils recommend to their respective councils that the Rangitikei County Council should offer to the Main Highways Board a contribution from the combined local bodies of a sum not exceeding one fourth of the estimated cost £29,725) for a. bridge on the lower site.”

The Rangitikei County Council notified that the foregoing resoluiiou was approved of at a. meeting held on March 7.

The chairman (Cr. W. E. Barber) explained! that the Council was really aiming at securing a greater subsidy than that offered by the Main Highways Board. Both the Rangitikei County Council delegates and Manawatu delegates had agreed to contribute a fourth of the estimated cost of ,a bridge on the lower site and allow the Highways Board to put the bridge where it liked. Mr. Baker’s report favoured a new structure on the up-stream side of the existing structure as being the best to serve the future needs of the country. It was admitted that from the purely county point of view the down stream site would serve. Cr. Barber reminded Councillors that the council was committed to interest and sinking fund charges on the old .structure for a further fourteen years and that was a consideration in the cost of a new structure.

It was stated (hat the estimated cost of a bridge on the lower site was £29,725 as against £39,430 for a bridge on the up-stream side of the existing structure. Following a discussion the council . endorsed the resolution carried by the delegates.