Improved views

The historic buildings and features of a town or city make an important contribution to its atmosphere and appearance.

To help improve the look of its town, the Stratford District Council decided it was time to give the main bridge across the river a facelift. Known as Victoria Bridge, it was completed in 1923 and, at 29.7m wide, was the second-widest bridge in New Zealand when it was built wide enough to allow angle parking on both sides.

Auckland Stonemasons won the tender to rebuild the balustrades on both sides of the bridge, replacing the old 1.2m-high solid concrete wall with new walls built from locally quarried stone. The new design incorporates stone pillars linked by stainless steel balustrades in the centre spans of the bridge, so people driving and walking across the bridge can see into the river below, a view not previously available.

The company's team of stonemasons collected andesite stone from the local quarry, cut and split it in the traditional way and built the new balustrades and pillars to complete the project.

Auckland Stonemasons was originally set up by the grandfather of current owners Jim and Len Lavas. He emigrated in 1927 from a small Dalmatian village that specialised in stonemasonry, and the company has worked on residential and commercial projects, including bridges, retaining walls, houses, pillars and fireplaces, ever since.

For more information, contact Jim or Len Lavas, Auckland Stonemasons, PO Box 152, Whitford 2149, phone (09) 530 8906, fax (09) 530 8907. Email: sales@stonemasons.co.nz, or visit the website: www.stonemasons.co.nz.

Story by: Trendsideas