Span across...

The low summer flow of the Waipaoa River was technically "bridged" at Matawhero last month when the first steel girders were slung across the river and fixed in position.

Unfortunately for the contractors and everybody else concerned, including the Catchment Board, the City Council, the Ministry of Works, and the travelling public, completion of the bridge will be put back 12 months by misadventure. Three supporting cylinders have been skewed off straight by ground slumping, probably the same action as wrecked the Te Arai bridge last winter. Straightening these has been described by the resident Ministry of Works engineer, Mr Roberts, as a "herculanean task".

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Big girder being hoisted into position.

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Bulldozers excavating cut near bridge.

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One of the skewed caissons.