MOA RIDING BRIDGES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 292, 19 January 1910, Page 2

MOA RIDING BRIDGES.

ROTTEN AND DECAYING. BIG EXPENDITURE REQUIRED. At the County Council meeting yesterday, Messrs Orbell and Mackay forwarded reports on the various bridges in the Moa riding of the county. Tliev pointed out that ths majority <■ r ported on were in a very buu stiue, so bad that in most the foreman had propped up the centre ol the spans by means of 'bTuegum poles, etc., resting on the :bed of the river. The estimates given in the attached, report allowed for a clear roadway of fourteen feet on the bridges, and metalling the approaches, etc.

Mangaotea bridge, Tariki road.—This bridge, which is a short one of I7?t span,j is in a very rotten state, and should be re-built as soon as possible. The estimated cost of doing this in reinforced concrete is £l6O for the bridge and £ls to r the earthwork. Ngatoro-iti bridge, Mountain road.— SingFe span of 55 feet, in an advanced state of decay, necessitating its renewal as early as possible. Estimated cost of re-erection in reinforced concrete £6OO, and £2O Tor earthwork.

Ngatoro bridge, Mountain road—One main span of 60 feet, and an end span of 14 feet, requiring renewal as soon as possible. Estimated cost: Reinforced concrete bridge £7OO, and earthwork £3O.

Maketawa bridge, Mountain road.— Main span of 60 feet, two end spans of 10 feet and 12 feet, in a bad state; sEouTd be renewed as soon as possible. Estimated cost of reinforced concrete bridge £BSO, earthwork £3O, and cutting down Trimble's liill £55.

Waitepuke bridge, Mountain road.— One span of 60 feet; requires to be renewed as soon as possible. Estimated cost of"renewing bridge .£7OO, and earth work £33.

Waiongona bridge, Hursthouse road.— Three spans (15ft, 40ft and 18ft), is in an advanced state of decay. Estimated cost of re-erection £3OO. earthwork, etc., £6O.

Mangaoraka bridge, Junction road.— Three spans (14ft, 25ft and Bft), is in a very rotten state. Estimated cost £3OO for bridge, and earthwork £SO. Henui bridge, Avenue road.—The engineers understood that the Council had already had a description of the present structure and the steep grades and sharp turns on each sfde leading on 1 o the bridge, and had decided to deviate the road and erect a new bridge in reinforced concrete. They attached a plan showing the deviation they proposed to make, with the grades and area of land to be required, etc. In favor of the scheme they pointed out that by going up stream from the present structure tttev would havca less depth to descend, while a really good grade could be obtained on the New Plymouth side and a very fair grade could be obtained on the otner side. The deviation would shorten the road bv about, ten or twelve chain=. and would not out off the approaches to New Plymouth via the Carrington road. Their estimate for t.hecoustruction of the road, including bridging and metalling, was £2750, The lircsent bridge was very unsafe, and the Council should have some repairs effected to the end spans, some of the uiiderstrneture being ab?olulely rotten. Mangorei bridge , Junction road.—A main span of 45ft. and two end spans of 1(1 feet each, -should be renewed as soon as possible, owing to the advanced slate of decay. Estimated cost of re-building: in ferro-conerete. £SOO. M'angamahoe bridge. Junction road ICuiniingllari's).—Alain span of about nofl. length of brid<re 50ft: in a general slate of decay, and should be renewed a" .ioTTn a- possible. A< the approaches to the bridge were somewhat sharp, the engineers reeomemnded a slight deviation. to give a straight run. The htm of land required would be about n quarter of an acre. Estimated cost of formation. bringing and metalling. £6OO.

When the Council lias accepted a plan for ihe Henni bridge and deviation, the .Moa riiling ratepayers will be asked :n coi'-ider a loan scheme to re-erect the ."hove mentioned.

W]ii)'-f the report was under discussion I'r. Carter moved lii ~ motion to I'e-ciud (he ('ouiicilTnreviou.s intentions wiill regard to the llenni bridge. The motion was carried, and now the Council -darts 0 n Hie llenni bridge scheme unit" untrammelled hv the opinions of former councils.