SHANNON BRIDGE

Shannon News, 12 April 1927, Page 3

SHANNON BRIDGE

QUESTION OF APPROACH ROAD. HOROWHENUA COUNTY COUNCIL DESIEES MOEE INFOEMaTION. Information was receivod from the Public Works Department at the meeting of the Horowhenua County Council on Saturday as to the apportionment o? cost of the Manawatu river bridge at Shannon. The details which were supplied by Mr R. H.' Bonayne, District Engineer, were as under: — "With • reference to the Manawatu river bridge at Shannon, the amount of the tender, which has been accepted is £19,842. In addition to this amount, the estimated cost of surfacing the deck with bitumen is £360. The estimated cost of the right bank bridge approach, Manawatu County, is £940, and the left bank bridge approach £2,680. This makes a total of £23,822 to be apportioned as follows: «,„«..,' Highways Board £ ]3,56_ Manawatu County '„o'! Horowhenua County £4280 Foxton Borough £BSO Shannon Borough £BSO Total • £23,822 "The Foxton and Shannon Boroughhave agreed to contribute tie fixed sur.i of £BSO each, but the first three items will be subject to slight alteration according to the actual cost of the work. Please let me know as soon as possible jf your Council agree to this apportionment. "The estimate of cost for the forma tion of the Manawatu County road approach ia £2700 and for the Horowhenua County road approach £5400.'' The District Engineer desired to have an assurance from the Council ;ha: a contribution on a £ for £ basis would be made on the approach" n,ad. A tracing of the pioposed work shows th-*ee alternative routes le'adi .g to the new bridge site.,- These are:—No. I.—From the Palmerston. Rone. ' and Railway on the north side of Shannon. No.. 2.—From Sheehan Street, in Shannon. ■ Xo. 3.—From the corner of Joans ton Street and the present Foxton road, it the south end of the borough. The route upon which the estimate of £5400 is based is understood to be No. 3. MOEE INFORMATION WANTED. The Chairman (Cr. Monk) said the fact that ths contract had been let for the amount stated was quite satisfactory to the Council and, he thought, to the"people concerned. He was concer; - ed, however, with the high cost of mation of the approach road on tho Horowhenua County side. There would be 50 chain 3 of construction at £5400 He was not satisfied that it should cost that much. The County engineer (MiAnderson) informed him that he land was quit. 9. solid; in fact some of it had been ploughed. Before entering into "the agreement, absolutely, "he though: the Council should refer the proposal back to the District Engineer, with a request to furnish details as to how the estimate for the approach road wa arrived at.

Cr. Wbyte said he did net think tin County was expected to pay £ for £ on the formation of that road. Hasked which route would be followed. The Chairman stated" that it would be the third route—from the little bridg on the Shannon-Foxton road.

Cr. Whyte: If they take it from there, they are making a great mistake. The right road is straight down from the railway line (No. 1 route); but the Shanncn people object < o that on ac count of the traffic. He would bo against granting £ for £ for a road that would not be the best route. Th< road was flooded there for some months, a while ago. SHANNON BOROUGH ROUTE. The Chairman: What about No. 2 Sheehan Street? The Engineer: That is the route 3 have always liked —off the main road Cr. Whyte: It is the longest .route to form and metal. On this othe; route there is a certain amount ahead} formed and metalled. Cr. Barber: I cannot agree to thai £ for£. The Chairman: We think the estimate is excessive. Cr. Barber: It is on the wrong routt. They created a situation, by erecting the banks, that would flood half i mile of our roads and require at leas' four feet to make it above flood level. That ia their funeral, I contend. II seems to me that on they tutpose they have got 1o pay for severance as well as for the Jand they arctaking. The chairman of the ManaAvatu County Council is getting a peLi tioa from the settlors at Moutoa and will have the position thoroughly considered. The District Engineer has been on a visit to the Old Country and Ave have not been able to do anything until hreturned." The people want to get in there almost immediately with their material. I stated that 1 would support the petition and get names added to it. . L ~ - Cr. Jensen asked if the contribution 'would be borne by the riding fund, and the Chairman replied in the affirmative The large bridges in the county were fairly evenly distributed # amojng the ridings. On the motion of the Chairman it was decided to refer the matter back to the District Engineer, with a request for information as to how the estimate of cost of the approach road was arrived at.