WAIWAKAIHO BRIDGE.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 January 1917, Page 6

WAIWAKAIHO BRIDGE.

RECONSTRUCTION AND WEIR. REPORTS OF ENGINEERS. As the result of the inspection of Mr. W. R. Holmes. Engineer-ih-Chief of the Public Works Department, of the Wniwakaibo bridge last week, the clerk of tdc Taranaki County Council lias reeeiv. Ed the following telegram from the Hon. \V. Eraser. Minister for Public Works;—"l have approved o'f Engineer-in-C'hief's ■recommendation that Messrs Slodden and Palmer's report be adopted regarding the restoration of the Waiwakaiho bridge and abutments, and also that the weir be lowered and the construction be slightly modified. This modification is being dealt with by the district engineer. The Engiiiecr-in-Chicf also recommends that you and the New Plymouth Borough Council should endeavor to arrange with tho contractor for the weir to restore the bridge. I undertake to provide one-third of tho cost of construction of tilie bridge, provided thati* such cost does not exceed £IOOO, an# that the recommendations of the Engmeer-inChief be given effect to."

11l the report submitted to the County Council by Messrs. Sladden and Pal;iner, tilio following suggestions wore made:—(a) That a weir below the bridge is essential; (b) that the western abutment be carried down to the pumice bed; (c) that the western cylinder pier and the centre concrete pier arc safe enough, provided a weir is built witlhout undue delay; (d) that the deep hole around 'tils eastern' cylinder pier be filled up with the broken concrete of the old span, and that fresh concrete be rn turned in around the bases of the cylinders; this we anticipate will hasten the ,;!l n<r up of the river bod after the weir is in position; (e) n new abutment and viiiiX nulls to be built at the eastern, end, aiul tilie foundation carried down to the bottom; the new bridge span to eontovm to the design of tlio present structure, at any rate as far as etxernul appearance is concerned; the reinforcement- may have to depend on the material obtained at the present time; (f) that it is desirable to remove the concrete now hanging between the cylinders of the eastern pier; this concrete ca' now serve no useful purpose, and is indeed rather a menace to the safety of title pier, as the two cylinders are supporting an unneccaary weight of fiom 20 to 25 tons.