Most of my working background was in the structural engineering field.

Many years ago, I remember attending and viewing the council presentation of their preferred options for the proposed replacement bridge. In my opinion, they were impractical.

I delivered a letter to council outlining my concern with all the proposals and suggested that they had not investigated the following options:

Repair the concrete cancer in the present bridge and increase the width of the pedestrian walkway.

Upgrade the existing unsealed road, off Ocean Drive and to the west of the Catholic school (St Peter The Fisherman). This road now extends to Stingray Creek.

Design and construct a smaller span bridge over the creek.

Construct a new road, from this bridge, west of North Haven, linking up with Ocean Drive, to the rear and north of the Public School. I realise that this would entail costs and negotiations with the State Government as well as pacifying others.

Provide an access road into the North Haven roundabout.

There are many firms qualified in rectifying concrete cancer. No big deal.

The reduced load limit on the bridge, would remain, suitable for existing domestic traffic.

My proposal would eliminate the disruption to existing through traffic as well as the cost of replacing all the services affected by the removal and reconstruction work for council's proposed new bridge. Heavy and through traffic would bypass the existing bridge and North Haven.

Most importantly, it would eliminate most of the heavy traffic passing the two schools.

I did not receive any acknowledgement nor reply from council.

Carl Metcalfe

Lakewood