THE KAKANUI ROAD.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1007, 11 July 1879, Page 2

THE KAKANUI ROAD.

The following is the full report of the Engineers upon the condition of this bridge, read at yesterday's meeting of the County Council:— Oamaru, July 10, 1879. To the Chairman and Members Waitaki County Council. Gentlemen, —We have the honor to report having examined the damages done to the road bridge over the Kakanui river by the recent flood, and find as follows : That the northern abutment and the adjacent pier have been undermined by the current, and damaged to such an extent as to render the removal of the wreck, and the complete renewal of the masonry, a matter of necessity. One wing wall has also fallen bodily over, while the other is so completely

undermined as to render its removal imperative. These portions of masonry have not been founded on the reef, but merely upon the shingle of the river-bed, and the masonry throughout has been very inadequately bonded. The pitching at three other places has been much damaged, while the concrete at one pier shows signs of weakness. The other piers and south abutment show no signs of injury, but as the water is of considerable depth at the two southern piers, we are not prepared to say at present whether or not their foundations are thoroughly safe. To re-erect the pier, abutment, and wingwall, founding them all upon the reef, and to pitch the spaces between four piers which show a risk, would cost LI 150.

We must point out, however, that the waterway of the bridge as of present length is quite inadequate to pass the water delivered by the railway bridge adjacent. The railway bridge lias a waterway of 4SO feet, while the road bridge has only 260 teet. It' is evident that to attempt the maintenance of the road bridge with such small waterway is undertaking great risk, with the almost certainty of damage to some portion or other at the recurrence of each large flood. We would recommend, therefore, that one or two additional spans of 70 feet each be added, and the timber parts of the present 30ft and 40ft spans at the injured portions be erected at the northern end of the two wide spans. The additional cost would be LI4OO and L2SOO respectively. The total estimate would then be— Repairs to present bridge ... £llsO One 70ft span additional ... 1400 £2550 Or, with two 70ft spans" added 1400 £3950 The addition of one more span would give considerable relief, but two would be much bettei*, aud even this would still have a waterway SO feet less than that of the railway bridge. We have also examined the Island Stream bridge, adjoining the above, and find that the retaining wall, south-west corner, aud the pitching under the southern arch have sustained considerable damage. The pitching is in no part of a satisfactory nature, but in°tlie meantime we would not recommend more than the reinstating of the damage in a substantial manner. We estimate the cost thereof at Lso.—We have, &c., Barr axd Oliver, Engineers the Council. The Engineers were instructed to prepare plans and specifications for the repair of the bridge, and to take the necessary steps for the repair of the Island Stream.