NEW MOTOR ROAD.

Press, Volume XLIV, Issue 19391, 17 August 1928, Page 4

NEW MOTOR ROAD.

DYER'S PASS TO GEBBIE/S PASS. FINE SCENIC ROUTE. In the near future Christchurch will have one of the most picturesque motor roads in the province. This will be when the new section of road from Kennedy's Bush to Gebbie's Pass is completed, which will allow motorists to drive up the Dyer's Pass road to the ''Sign of the Kiwi" reireshment room, turn off at that point to proceed along the Kennedy's .bush road until Gebbie's Pass is reached, and then drive past Teddington to Governor's Bay

As most motorists who have undertaken the trip know, the road from the "Sign of the Kiwi" to Governor's Bay is so steep and contains one or two such sharp bends that it requires careful driving and a sharp look-out to negotiate it successfully. Because of this some of the more timid drivers are averse from using the road; consequently they will welcome the opening of the alternative route mentioned, especially as a considerable portion of the road will be over practically level, ground, the grade being one in seventy along the hilltop. The highest portion of the road will be at an altitude of 16,000 feet, near Mt. Ada, which is about half a mile on the Christchurch side of Kennedy's Bush. Mr H. G. Ell, superviser for the Summit Road Public Trust, intends almost immediately to reform the old Kennedy's Bush road from the "Sign of the Kiwi" to the refreshment rooms into a metalled highway seven feet in width, ample unmetalled space being left on either side of the road for two cars to pass each other. This work will join up with that beinc undertaken by the Public Works Department, which is giving relief tothe unemployment position by providing work for 47 men, who commenced forming the road in June last. This portion of the road will be 16 feet wide and will ,be about four miles long. It is Mr Ell's intention that a toll charge of Is per car be .charged-for users, of practically for pleasure purposes only, and he estimates that from this source the sum of' £6OO will be raised annually. This amount will be sufficient to maintain the road from the "Sign of the Kiwi" to Gebbie's Pass and will enable Mr Ell to undertake the next section of road he' has in view. This is from Gebbie's Pass to the "Sign of the Pack Horse" refreshment room at Kaituna Valley, the whole, of the work being undertaken with i a view to completing Mr Ell's vision of a summit track 53 miles in .length. ' . From the Dyer's Pass road to Gebbie's Pass one of the most beautiful views in Canterbury may be obtained when the road is open to motorists. The route alternately traverses both sides of the Cashmere Hills; On the west side a magnificent panorama of the Canterbury Plains and the City of Christchurch may be seen, bounded by the Alps.and the sea, and on the east side a striking view is brought into vision of the port of Lyttelton, its picturesque harbour, and Banks Peninsula. It is safe to say that when completed the road will attract thousands of motorists annually during week-ends and on holidays, especially as it may be peached in less than half an hour from Cathedral square: