NEW HIGHWAY IN WELLINGTON

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22424, 10 June 1938, Page 17

NEW HIGHWAY IN WELLINGTON

CABINET APPROVAL GIVEN

DEVIATION BETWEEN PORIRUA AND JOHNSONVILLE

(P BESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON. June 9. Road construction involving the building of a main highway deviation through Ngahauranga Gorge, and the use of the old Main Trunk railway line from Johnsonville to a point south of Porirua as a new highway, has been approved by the Cabinet, the Minister for Public Works (the Hon. R. Semple) announced to-,day. The realignment of the Ngahauranga Gorge road will involve driving at least one tunnel more - than 550 feet long, and will shorten the present road by half a mile, cutting out many of the sharp bends and steep gradients. Mr Semple mentioned the rapid growth of traffic year by year, and the substantial developments to be looked to in suburban expansion towards Tawa Flat.

The new road through the gorge will generally follow a direct line through spurs and along or over the stream, and its construction will necessitate the closing of the present road, so that for a time access to Wellington will be through Khandallah, or from Pahautanui to Lower Hutt. Any temporary inconvenience will be minimised, however, by expediting work on the gorge road. This road is intended ultimately to provide for four lanes of traffic. The road from Johnsonville to Porirua is such that the safe flow of traffic is seriously hampered. The Main Highways Board included this section in its report, and its suggestion that the old Main Trunk railway line be adapted for highway traffic has been approved. These works will afford employment for many men for a considerable period.