LAST OF BRIDGES

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 195, 16 June 1939, Page 2

LAST OF BRIDGES

COAST SCENIC ROUTE / PREPARATIONS IN HAND FIVE MORE TO BE BUILT DEVIATION PROPOSED The last cf the work to- complete the bridging of the Eiast Coast scenic, route between Hicks Bay . and Opotiki is being prepared, and when completed this should prove an all-weather route for what is regarded as one of the finest scenic drives in the Dominion. Following the completion of-the bridging of the streams on the Bay of Plenty coast, the remaining work is all in the Matakaoa County, in which there are at present seven unbridged crossings. Two of these on the Nukutaharua Stream are to- be eliminated by the construction of a deviation, while five bridges are to be erected over tlio remainder. Material from Tolagif Bay and Bartletts bridges is to be used to construct the Coast- bridges, which are expected to he pushed ahead 1 very shortly. The 60ft. steel truss spans from the Uawa bridge at T.odaga Bay a re'to lie sand-blasted to.- remove the rust and render them suitable for the construction of bridges over the Oweka and Mangainekci streams, while material from other bridges in the Gisborne district. Bartletts and the Coast, is to be used on. the Nukutaharua No-. 3 crossing and Waimate and Waitauka kari streams. Largest cf the Bridges. The biggest cf the/ bridges will be the Oweka, which will be 180 ft. long. comprising three 60ft. spans, while some of them will be only short ones.. The Mangameko will be of . one 6011. span. The Nukutaharua No-. 3 crossing will be bridged by cue 40ft. wooden span, the Waimate byj one 12ft. and one 14ft. span and the Waitaukakari by three spans, one of 24ft., another of 12ft. and a third of 1511. These three .will be all wooden bridges. All bridges in the present programme will be of the one-way type, following the practice adopted with the Awatere. Karakat-uwhero and Whangaparaoa, bridges recently completed, and all will be within 12 miles of each other between Hicks Bay and the Bay of Plenty coast. In addition to the ones projected in this area, a two-way concrete' bridge is being constructed, at Mangatutu, near Hicks Bay. It is expected that- an early startwill be possible .on thef final stage of the bridging programme cm tlio - upper portion of the Coast. Very little importation of material will lie required, as a result of the greaterportion being found locally, and the steel for the piles will be the only major item that it will be necessary to order .from outside the Dominion.. —R.B. Herald.