ARTERIAL ROADS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 120, 23 May 1928, Page 10

ARTERIAL ROADS.

METALLED CONNECTIONS. % AUCKLAND TO WAKOAREL WAIWERA IN ALL WEATHERS. (By Telegraph.—Special to "Star."> WELLINGTON, this day. At its meeting in Wellington this week the Main Highways Board approved of a further substantial instalment of its policy for completion of unmetalled sections of the main highway. The board dealt with two cases' which are of considerable interest to motorists. These were the GisborneOpotiki via Mutu main highway, and the main highway from Bulls via Taihape to Ohakune. It is hoped that the decisions arrived at #by the board will ensure that an unmetalled gap of about six miles on the former, and a similar length between Karioi and Waiouru on the latter, will be metalled during next construction season.

With a view to giving metalled connection from Auckland northwards to Whangarei within the next few years, the board has drawn up a programme of construction for next season which will involve an expenditure of a considerable sum. It is hoped during the coming summer to provide an all-weather route from Auckland to Waiwera. »• Petrol Tax Subsidies. Local authorities adjacent to larger centres of population are taking advantage of preferential subsidies bein<* offered by the Highways Board out of the proceeds of the petrol tax towards the cost of paving roads carrying dense traffic. The following roads radiating from Palmerston North, Christchurch, and Dunedin were dealt with during the m e e t i n g:—Christchurch-Akaroa, one mile in Paparua County; Dunedinlnvercargill, 16 miles in Taieri County: Palmerston North-Sansom, 34 miles in Kairanga County; Himitangi-Ashhurst, via Palmerston North, 6£ miles in Kairanga County; Christchurch-Dunedin, 8 miles m Paparua County. It is hoped to have construction work commenced on all the above lengths at an early

Reconstruction of a portion of the Dunedm-Invercargill main highway immediately south of Dunedin is the first work in the Dunedin district on which the responsible county council has cooperated with the board and agreed to find a fair share of the cost. A report indicating that the present Bulls Bridge over the Rangitikei River on the main highway between Wellington and Wanganui requires either extensive repairs or renewal was before the board. The local authorities, who are ,*t present contributing towards the cost

of maintenance of this bridge, are taking traffic tallies at the bridge site, so that the question of allocation of cost can be dealt with. Tramway Board's Request. An application from the Christchurch Tramway Board for a subsidy on its expenditure on the maintenance of such portions of roadway as are covered by tram tracks on the main highways which are carrying the heavy motor traffic received consideration. It was decided to advise the tramway board that there is no authority under the Main Highways Act which would enable the Main Highways Board to make a subsidy available on expenditure incurred by the tramway board on maintenance. The Main Highways Board's subsidy is limited to the amount expended by, the controlling authority on the roadway only.