TAMAKI BRIDGE

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 970, 13 May 1930, Page 7

TAMAKI BRIDGE

PROPOSAL TO WIDEN STRUCTURE CONFERENCE HELD Support of a scheme for the widening of the bridge over the Tamaki River on the Great South Road was agreed upon at a special meeting of representatives of the Main Highways Board, the Manukau County Council, the Otahuhu Borough Council and the Auckland Automobile Association, held in the Otahuhu Borough Council Chambers last evening. It was stated that the existing bridge is not in alignment with the concrete sections of the Great South Road, and it is proposed to widen the structure to enable traffic travelling on the concrete to continue straight ahead over tho bridge. The road, 3 Bft wide, will continue straight over the bridge and tho widening will give a clearance of 25ft on ono side and 15ft on the other side of the central strip. The estimated cost of the widening is £ 6,154, as against £9,377 for the construction of a new bridge, as was originally proposed by the Manukau County Council and the Otahuhu Borough Council. The scheme was submitted to Mr. M. H. Wynyard, of the Main Highways Board, as an alternative to the previous and more costly scheme for building a new bridge. He explained that he had made the proposal, and had suggested the conference at a previous meeting of the Main Highways Board, as he considered it desirable to preserve the present bridge on account of its historic associations. INCREASED SUBSIDY Although the usual bridge subsidy of the Main Highways Board was £2 for £l, it was possible that the board would consent to an increased subsidy on tho cost of widening the present bridge, said Mr. Wynyard. He promised to put the matter before the board. If the board accepted the proposal for an increased subsidy of £3 for £l, the amount to be found by the Otahuhu Borough Council and the Manukau County Council would about £BIO each. Mr. Wynyard also said that the Main Highways Board might possibly finance the entire undertaking in the first instance. Local bodies would be given five years to pay their portions, which would be in five equal yearly payments. The board would call for tenders for the work as soon as local bodies had approved the scheme. Mr. F. Waters, the representative of tho Manukau County Council, said he was prepared to ask his council to agree to the proposal and he felt sure ol the support of the other members. Support of the scheme was also expressed by the representatives of the Otahuhu Borough Council.