BRITAIN’S ROADS

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 16, 13 October 1927, Page 11

BRITAIN’S ROADS

MOSTLY GOOD—BUT SOME INDIFFERENT Dominion Special Service. London, August 18. “There are no such things as bad roads in Britain,” said a Norwegian visitor to me this summer, and certainly after the collection of pot-holes and rocks which have to do duty for roads in some parts of Norway, the British roads must have seemed to the visitor like racing tracks. The motorsist mav grumble "at the motor tax, but he is certainly receiving value for his money. Both main and secondary roads throughout Britain and a large . part of Scotland are in wonderful condition, and it is nossible to drive from London! to Aberdeen without experiencing a single bump. In the Highlands, hoveever, things are very different; many of the roads are in an appalling condition. The Highland county councils have been too poor to bear their share of the expense of road reconstruction, with the result that the roads have' either been completely neglected or have just been tinkered at. The great Grampian Road from Perth to Inverness, once a great coaching highway, had sunk into a deplorable condition, but happily the Government has taken the matter in hand, and the road throughout its length is being reconstructed. The period of reconstruction, however, means a painful time to the motorist.' From Blair Athol to Inverness reconstruction is proceeding, and the motors ist finds it hard to decide whether seo* tions of the road which have not been touched at all are. reallv worse thatt sections under repair. Here and there there are stretches of finished highway, and motorists can realise how wonderful the road will be when once it is completed. 'Meanwhile he has to bump r.nd roll as best lie can over stones, potholes, and sets, crossing streams froni time to time over the flimsiest tempon* ary bridges, but the scenery compel* sates him for all his troubles, and wheil he gains the summit of the Pass be feels that it has been well worth hia while to try the perilous veqture.