NEW LINK ROAD.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 224, 22 September 1938, Page 24

NEW LINK ROAD.

NEAH WHANGAREI. AVOIDING WAIPU GORGE. FINE PANORAMIC VIEWS. (From Onr Cnrrcspondent.l WHANGAREI, this day. Long-deferred hope and ambition will lie realised with the official opening next, week of the Brynderwyn deviation, a new road over the range between Waipu and Kaiwaka, which will shorten the distance between Auckland and Wlianjjarei by nearly seven miles. The new link road has been designed to avoid traversing the tortuous Waipu Gorge, and will open tin a new route with particular chain, for visitors.

The summit of the range, whore tlio now mud will cro>s, is nearly a thousund feet above sea level. :ui<l from here on a clear day wonderful panoramic views unfold- a wide stretch of the Pacific Oeeau with the Hen and Chickens, Sail Uoek, the Poor Knights and the bold outline of Marian, at the entrance to Whaiigarei in the foreground: while far to the west the high land of Poutil, at the put ranee to Kaipara Ila 1 hour, maybe discerned. A wide stretch of the fertile lands of the north stretch from the foothills of the range. Wet Weather Delay. Mr. K. H. Pack wood, district Public Works engineer, said that the intention had been to have the deviation opened much earlier this year, but exceptionally wet weather during the winter had made it desirable to close the route, even though the formation work had been completed. Advantage had been taken of the delay to complete bridging arrangement*. In one place a concrete bridge replaced a smaller structure.

Tho deviation leaves the main road more than 4} miles south of Waipu at the eastern end of the Maungaturoto Gorge, and for the first three miles follows practically along the existing route to Mr. Pilbrow's house at the summit of the range between east and west coast*, until it reaches a height of more than 900 ft. The climb does not exceed a grade of one in 11 at any point.

Descending on the western side of the summit towards Kaiwaka. the road drops some ,")ot)ft in a distance of a mile and a half and parses through bushclad, rocky country. The lack of punga ferns, one of the attractions of the old route through the gorge, is more than compensated for by the numerous gullies and gulches tilled with fine specimens of native ferns. A new formation o'er tak stretch has involved very heavy cuttings and deep fillings. Only a short distance from the summit and just above one of the cuttings may be seen specimens of kauri.

The road winds down on an even course to the Piroa stream, which finds its outlet in the Waipu Gorge. The bridge crossing the Piroa stream is about one and a half miles from Pi I brow's, and is 412 ft above pea-level. It is constructed of reinforced concrete. Cleared Farm Lands. On the other side of the Piroa stream there is a change in the landscape, the country being undulating farm land cleared of bush. A slight rise follows to the Brynderwyn Valley. The road then passes for some distance through unstable limestone country until it tape the volcanic area. Skirting the flank of Bald Hill it reaches the head of the Pukekaroro Stream, which it follows for the next two miles, traversing closely the route of the old tramline road until it reaches the main Maungaturoto-Kaiwaka highway, nine miles from the start of the deviation and at a point two miles north of Kaiwaka. The saving in distance from Whangarei to the junction is 61 miles, and in the reconstruction to provide a more direct route to Topuni a further halfmile hat been eaved by keeping on the eaet side of the railway line and avoiding two railway crossings. Another Link Road. Another important road work which is being undertaken is that linking the new deviation with Maungaturoto. At a point mix. miles from the commencement at the Waipu end a branch highway follows a spur down to the Brynderwyn Valley, meeting the existing road at that point and following it to the junction near the Maungaturoto dairy factory— a total distance of a little over three miles. The existing road, which is reformed according to modern standards, provides an easy route r.-ith good alignment and grades.

Upwards of 100 men have been kept in continuous employment for the past 18 months on this and adjacent highways.

A feature of the deviation is the stability of the greater part of the country which it traverses, this being in marked contrast to the constantlyshifting terrain which characterises the route now in use. Part of the formation has been hewn out of solid rock of excellent quality, which is useful for metalling purposes.

The new road provides a better alignment, fewer corners, easier grades and consequently safer and faster travel.