NEW RAILWAY BRIDGE

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 506, 8 November 1928, Page 1

NEW RAILWAY BRIDGE

SPANNING THE WAIKATO STRUCTURE AT NGARUAWAHIA PRESENT BRIDGE OUT OF DATE A new railway bridge is to be built over the Waikato River at Ngaruawahia. It will span the river about 30 feet : down stream from the present struc- J tura which carries the main trunk line, j For some weeks past officials of the j Railway Department have been test- ] ing the bed of the river in order to find j whether the foundations for the new ! bridge will be suitable. Bores were j driven to a depth of 100 feet, and a suitable bed of sand, shingle and clay was found. The present bridge was built in 1874, but it is now becoming out of date and unsuitable for the heavier traffic which it will be required to carry as the railway business increases, and a new and a heavier type of train is brought into use. It is not unsafe at the moment, but it would have to be repaired shortly, and this would require a considerable amount of money. It has j therefore been decided to build an- j other bridge, as a new one will be re- j quired sooner or later. In© new bridge will be built of steel on reinforced concrete cylinders. The design provides for three 120 ft trusses with two approach spans at one end of 20ft and 30ft each, and one of 20ft at the other end. The new structure will include all the newest ideas in bridge construction, and should be a very flue piece of work. TVs in the present bridge, a clearance will be left so that small boats will be able to use the river without being impeded in their journey up and down stream. While the bridge is being built, no false work will be erected in rjio main span because of the ni er U The old bridge will not be dismantled but, as the new bridge is ex- j pected only to carry a single track, it may continue to do duty in carrying lighter trains. , . j • The new bridge, is being designed m the office of the Chief Engineer of Railways, Wellington. It Is not certain when a start will be made with the construction of the bridge, but the preliminary data is almost complete.