Bridge Dismantled

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 30, 5 February 1937, Page 2

Bridge Dismantled

PILES RIDDLED WITH BORER (Special to “Times") HASTINGS, Feb. 4. After 30 years’ service, tho ol< wooden traffic bridge at Waitangi oi cho Napior-Hastiugs main highway i; n tho hands of tho wreckers. Kapidlj ho old -structure, much of it still a: uind ns when the bridge was built, i: -■ing pulled apart, and traffic passes -side it on the new ferro-concreti idge completed last year. In the great flood of 1897 the bridgi /or this portion of tho road was ashed away by tho raging waters tlm ndered many settlers in tho distric nnoless. A tomjiorary wooden bridge signed to givo service for 32 montlu nly, was erected in its place, and ro nioinod unaltered for almost 10 year-! until an overladen tractor, followed 1> another heavy lorry, almost wen; through it. Two of tho spans bucklec Inwards and downwards, and it wai decided to build a now bridge. That was 30 years ago, and the struc turc, built mainly of kauri, stood al subsequent floods and traffic. The pilo? wero of Australian iron-bark, and tnosc which havo now been broken off anc pulled out show t.hat\ they have been literally riddled with borer. An experl on the subject of hardwoods stated yestorday that, had tho piles been 1C miles farther up tho river they would not have been attacked to such on extent, but that a typo of borer common to woods in- salt water had coipletely ruined them. A kick at tl baso of a pile brought off masses of -splintered and rotten wood. The decking of tho bridge, in matai. and tho superstructu.o of the bc-st, hear 4 kauri, although slightly, weatherbeaten, are now still ns good as when pu down, and will bo sold by auction. The dismantling of the bridge has now been In progress for throe weeks, and one complete span and much of two other* have already been removed and stacked neiirby preparatory to sale. It is expected that, the work will bo completed within ancther month. ________