SHANNON BRIDGE

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVII, Issue 10, 9 December 1926, Page 2

SHANNON BRIDGE

PROPOSALS UNDER WAY. EARLY START PROBABLE. The information that there was every possibility of an early start being made with the re-building of the bridge over tho Manawatu river at Shannon was again given to the monthly meeting of the Manawatu County Council yesterday. Reporting in this connection, the chairman (Cr Barber) stated that he had interviewed the Highways Board’ and had obtained information which had enabled him to appreciate the difficulties which had prevented a prompt decision to rebuild the bridge. The board had gone into the position thoroughly, and had prepared three different plans of the proposed new bridge. The possibility of the proposed river cut had necessitated an alteration in the plans, and the board, with this possibility in View, had decided to work on plans for a cheaper structure and one which could be moved in the event of any action being taken to alter the river’s course. It was estimated that this structure would cost from £16,000 to £19,000, and tenders would be called for the work before long. Under the circumstances, Cr Barber considered that the position was satisfactory. In regard to the approaches. Or Barber mentioned that the road, on the Foxton side of the river would go through swampy ground and would be veiy costly to construct. There was a better route available over native property, but he understood that the native owners objected to the road going behind their meeting house. There was private property and he certainly favoured the council refusing,to build a road on the surveyed line. Reporting in connection with the approaches, the engineer (Mr G. Hickford) stated: “Yesterday I made an inspection of the proposed new road line to the site of the new bridge over the Manawatu river, jhe road line as laid off by the department enters a very bad swampy bog flat and it would post a considerable sum to construct a road over this as the spoil required for the embankment would have to be carted a considerable distance. With a view to getting a higher and more direct road line to the proposed bridge, I made an inspection and was informed by a native that they would not allow any alteration from the original surveyed road. It is essential to have the road constructed on high and dry country, and the road must be made on the first survey line, or on the accretion south of Air Pigott’s residence.” The council briefly discussed the position and it was decided, on the motion of Cr Fagan, seconded by Cr Reid, that the attention of the Public Works Department be drawn to the inadvisability of constructing the road along the proposed route, and that the request be made that an officer of the department be sent up to confer with the county engineer regarding the matter. In regard to the punt across the river, advice was received from the Public Works Department that the Highways Board had decided that the control of the ferry should be handed over to the AJanawatu County Council, and in this connection the chairman reported that the board had agreed to the council making a charge for the use of the punt between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., with the exception that, on Saturday nights, the charge should not be imposed until after 11 p.m., so that Saturday night shoppers would not be penalised.