BRIDGE WILL SHORTEN ROUTE TO PLEASANT PT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18055, 15 January 1927, Page 1

BRIDGE WILL SHORTEN ROUTE TO PLEASANT PT.

WILL BE GREAT ASSET TO SOUTH BRIGHTON. New Brighton has Jong been a popular bathing resort. North Beach is well known. Central Brighton enjoy# a growing popularity, and now South Brighton is about to claim a plate amongst the many popular resort* within a short distance of Christchurch. Costing nearly £II,OOO, the bridge now in the course of erection, which will connect New Brighton with Bexley, will shorten the trip to Pleasant Point by at least one tram section, and will do much to further popularise this already popular resort. Though it wa* expected that the bridge would bo open to traffic by July, it is now stated that the work will not be completed before October. Good progress, how. everf, is being made, and the road approaches, costing £§4B.’), have been completed. There will really be two bridges, separated in the stream by Rat Island. One bridge, that on the Bexley side, will I>e one span of 25 feet, and the other will consist of seven spans of similar length. By leaving Page's Road at Breere’* Road and crossing the new bridge, visitors will arrive at Estuary Road in the same time now occupied by the trains in travelling to Union Street, Central Brighton. Though the area responsible for the interest and sinking fund in connection with the bridge that area south of Jervois Street —will be faced with a comparatively heavy burden by way of interest and charges, amounting to about 6d in the £1 cm the unimproved value, the residents consider that the money is being well spent. South Brighton is an ideal resort. There is peace and quiet there, under the shade of the trees. Thousands already know that, and thousands have j-et to learn. Mr J. Gamble, Mayor of the borough, stated to-day that after a somewhat lean winter period, New Brighton was again the busy holiday resort that Christchurch knows so well; and indications pointed to a revival of trade. Notwithstanding the unfavourable weather experienced, every available house was occupied. In Central Brighton and at North Beach the continuation of the protective sea-wall was the outstanding feature of the new works in progress. A* the extensions were progressing the advantages of the wall were becoming more and more apparent, and it wa* hoped that means would be found to connect the sections, now being erected, into one continuous protective walk