ROADING PLAN ON WEST COAST

Press, Volume XCII, Issue 27782, 6 October 1955, Page 16

ROADING PLAN ON WEST COAST

SEALED ROUTE TO CHRISTCHURCH

COMPLETION IN 1959 EXPECTED

(From Our Own Reporter) WESTPORT, October 5.

A plan to complete the sealing of roads to Christchurch from Westport and Greymcuth by the end of the 195859 financial year, as submitted by the resident engineer for the Ministry of Works (Mr R. Simmers) was approved by a meeting of the No. 12 District Roads Council at Westport. The council made the proviso that there be no reduction of work in realigning and widening the main south road in Westland and that grants on rates collected by county councils for special works be continued. In his report Mr Simmers said that consideration had been given to alterations in the approved programme of works with a view to obtaining improved progress on construction works with the staff available.

“The conclusion has been reached that too much effort is wasted by the prosecution of a large number of relatively small works and that better results could be obtained by concentrating on a smaller number of larger jobs,’’ said Mr Simmers. Thought had also been given to the improvement and sealing of important links in the State highway system. The four which had been selected were:--Westport-Inangahua Junction; Inangahua Junction - Reeftori - Greymouth; Reefton-Hanmer: Westport-Greymouth (coast road). The completion of the&c sections would provide a dustless surface to Christchurch from Westport and Greymouth, and also betweenGreymouth and Westport.

“The possibility of carrying out this work by the end of the 1958-59 financial year has been examined,” the report said. “It is considered that all the work up to and including the second coat of sealing can be completed except for that on the Westport-Grey-mouth Coast road, which will probably take about two years longer.” Mr Simmers said that he understood that a section of the Reefton-Hanmer highway in No. 13 Roads District would also be completed by April, 1959. He added that there was a possibility of concentration on the completion of the programme having some effect on other works in the district, but, owing to the growing revenue of the board and the increasing allocation of funds, that effect would not be as great as would at first appear. It was proposed to spend £176,000 on the works during the present financial year, and £250,000 next year, which would be £74,000 more than originally planned.