The Problem Of The Bridge

To be, or not to be? That is the question as far as the William Pettie bridge is concerned. Closed now for more than three years, the bridge is out of action for vehicular traffic, but it remains the centre of a warm controversy.

Heading one side of the argument, the Mayor, Mr H. H. Barker, says it would be uneconomic to make repairs, that the bridge is not strictly necessary, that it could create a traffic hazard at the Wainui Road-Esplanade corner. On the other side, the William Pettie Bridge Committee argues that the amount required for repairs is reasonable if it provides the use and convenience of an alternative route over the Waimata.

To get its own information about the bridge, the committee recently had Mr S. G. Rees, a consulting structural engineer from Wellington, make an independent survey. He is seen, above, making notes during his inspection.

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Some committee members on the bridge. Damaged pier is in midstream.

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A view of the bridge looking upstream. Damaged pier was skewed by flood debris.