Electricity (Supply) (Amendment) (No. 2) Act, 1934

Protection of public roads and bridges.

11.—If and whenever the execution of any of the scheduled works under this Act involves the diversion, removal, or other interference with any public road or bridge the following provisions shall have effect, that is to say:—

(a) where the execution of the scheduled works involves the closing of the road or bridge to traffic the Board shall construct and shall maintain while such road or bridge is so closed to traffic a temporary road or bridge in the same or some other convenient situation sufficient to carry traffic of such quantity and character as normally uses such road or bridge;

(b) the Board shall at or before the completion of the scheduled works either restore the road or bridge to its former condition or construct, after consultation with the Minister for Local Government and Public Health, a new permanent road or bridge in the same or some other convenient situation sufficient to carry the like amount (in quantity and character) of traffic as the original road or bridge was able to carry and not substantially less convenient in gradient and curve than such original road or bridge;

(c) where the Board constructs a permanent new bridge and such bridge confers substantially greater advantages on the public of any county or urban district than the original bridge, by affording an improved means of communication or otherwise, the Board shall certify the cost of such new bridge and the Minister for Local Government and Public Health shall certify what part of such cost in his opinion ought reasonably to be borne by the council of such county or urban district, and thereupon a sum equal to the part so certified of such cost shall be raised by such council as part of the expenses of the maintenance of county or urban roads (as the case may be) and shall be paid by such council to the Board;

(d) if any doubt, dispute, or question shall arise as to whether the Board in the construction, maintenance, or restoration of any temporary or permanent road or bridge pursuant to this section has complied with the provisions of this section, or as to whether a permanent new bridge constructed by the Board confers substantially greater advantages on the public of any county or urban district than the original bridge, such doubt, dispute, or question shall be decided by the Minister for Local Government and Public Health, whose decision shall be final.