EROSION OF ROAD

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22445, 5 July 1938, Page 12

EROSION OF ROAD

ROUTE MAY BECOME IMPASSABLE GREYMOUTH-WESTPORT HIGHWAY DAMAGE FROM POUNDING BY SEA. [THE PRESS Special Service.] GREYMOUTH, July 4. Serious erosion of the coastal highway linking Greymouth and Westport has taken place, especially during the last few days, at a point 16 miles from Greymouth, and grave fears are held that further damage will make the road impassable. The road, which is parallel to the seafront for one mile north of Fagan’s creek to Barrytown, when seen today by a reporter of “The Press,” was scarcely distinguishable from the beach, so greatly has it suffered from the heavy pounding of the sea. From time to time representations have been mad.e to the Main Highways Board to construct a new road along a route removed from the sea•front, and about two and a half years ago the necessity for a change was pointed out to the Minister for Public Works (the Hon. R. Semple) when he inspected the present road on his first Ministerial visit to the West Coast.

“A definite promise,” said Mr J. Ryall, a member of the Grey County Council, “was made by Mr Semple on that occasion that a survey of the proposed road would be made when a surveyor was available, but none has yet been made.” A meeting of settlers of the Barry town district will be held to-mor-row night, when it is their intention to protest about the apathy said to be shown towards the construction of a new road. The damaged road is an essential factor in communication between Westport and Greymouth. Four service cars, several freight lorries and more than 100 cars cross it daily. The distance between the two towns by the road is 35 miles less that that by the inland road to Westport through Reef ton.

Money Spent on Repairs For one mile north from Fagan’s creek, the road is only a few feet from the usual high water mark, and because of the damage done by the sea, especially during the frequent rough weather, a large amount of money has to be expended in keeping the road in repair. About 18 months ago the Public Works Department completed building the sea wall along the road at a cost of more than £2OOO. To-day that wall does not exist, so great has been the erosion.

It has been found impossible to move the road further from the seafront because the other boundary is peaty swamp, which gives no foundation. Because of the cost the raising of the road level by more than six feet is considered impracticable. When the present road was constructed many years ago, the beach alongside shelved gradually, and for some distance toward the sea. To-day comparatively deep water is within half a chain of the road, parts of which have been deeply undermined.

Efforts to Prevent Erosion Large quantities of small rock have been deposited by the Public Works Department in an effort to prevent further erosion. This work has been in vain. At times the breaking of waves over the roadway has presented a considerable danger to motorists. Only a few days ago a small car travelling toward Greymouth was overturned and the driver was fortunate to escape serious injury. So high were the waves last week-end that a road-grader, which was being used to keep the road open to traffic was temporarily put out of commission when the seawater entered the carburettor.

Although a grader and a gang of 10 workmen have been constantly employed in repairing the scoured surface of the road, frequent delays to the traffic have occurred. Often large boulders, logs, and other driftwood have had to be removed.

In . the opinion of the Engineer to the Grey County Council (Mr J. Higgins), the only satisfactory solution of the problem of maintaining road communication with Westport along this route lies in the construction of a proposed road about two miles in length, which would skirt the foothills about half a mile from the present road, and which would present no natural difficulties.

Telegrams were sent to-day by the Grey County Council to the member for the district (the Hon. P. C. Webb), the Main Highways Board, and the Minister for Public Works, again drawing their attention to the seriousness of the position.