MAIN HIGHWAYS

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 198, 23 May 1928, Page 7

MAIN HIGHWAYS

BOARD DECISIONS NEW BRIDGE WANTED AT BULLS The monthly meeting of the Mani Highways Board was hekl at Wei in ft-on at the end of last week, Mr. F. M. lur kert presiding. A large amount of busi ness was dealt with. An official 1 P of the proceedings states: — Foilowing on its policy to complete un metalled sections of main highway tne board dealt with two cases which me or considerable interest to motorists, inese were th Gisborne-Opotiki via Motu main highway and the main highway from Bulls via Taihape to Ohakune. It is hoped that the decisions arrived at by tne board will ensure that the installed gap of about six miles on the fqimei and a similar length between Knrioi an Waiouru on the latter will be metalled during the next construction season. With h view to giving n metalled connection from Auckland northwards to Whangarei within the next few years, the board has drawn up a programme of construction for next season which uw involve the expenditure of a considerable sum. . It is hoped during the coming sunimei to provide an all weather route tiom Auckland to Waiwera. , Local authorities adjacent to the lainer centres of population are taking advantage of the preferential subsidies being offered by the board out of the proceeds of the petrol tax towards the cost of paving roads carrying dense trafficThe following roads radiating from 1 almerston North, Christchurch, and ul J‘ edin were dealt with during the jneeting; Christchurch-Akaroa. one mile in Paparua comity; Dunedin-Invercargill, 16 miles in Taieri county; Palinerston-Sanson-Himitangi-Ashhurst via Palmerston, 6i miles in Kairanga county: Christ-church-Dunedin, 8 miles in I aparua county. It is hoped to have construction work commenced on all these lengths at an early date. . The reconstruction of the portion ot the Dunedin-Invercargill main highway immediately south of Dunedin is the first work in the Dunedin district on which the responsible county council has cooperated with the board and agreed to find a fair share of the cost. A report indicating that the present Bulls bridge over the Rangitikei Kiver on the main highway between Wellington and Wanganui requires either extensive repairs or renewal ■was before the board. The local authorities who are at present contributing towards the cost ot maintenance of this bridge are taking traffic tallies at the bridge site so that the question of the allocation of the cost can be dealt with. , An application from the Christchurch Tramway Board for a subsidy on its expenditure on maintenance of such portions of the roadway as are covered by the tram traack on main highways which are carrying heavy motor traffic received consideration. It was decided to advise the Tramway Board that there is no authority under the Main Highways Act which would enable the Main Highways Board to make a subsidy available on expenditure incurred by ,the Tramway Board on maintenance. The Main Highways Board’s subsidy is limited to the amount expended by the controlling authority on the roadway only. *