ROSENEATH HIGHWAYS

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 289, 6 September 1928, Page 13

ROSENEATH HIGHWAYS

“FROM CINDERELLA TO A QUEEN” DANGERS OF MAIDA VALE ROAD A deputation from the Roseneatli Municipal Electors’ Association waited ou the Works Committee of the City Council in connection with the existing state of Maida Vale Road and what might be done to make it a better and safer road. Mr. E. R. Render, the president of the association, who introduced the deputation, said that they were not unmindful as to what had been done for Roseneatli by the council in recent years, which had changed it from the Cinderella to a queen of Wellingtons suburbs; and they were very proud of it There was the work at Grass Street which had been under consideration for twelve months, and which he hoped was not being lost sight of, but the immediate business of the deputation was the necessity of improving Maida Vale Road. Mr. F. W. Moore said that Maida Vale Road was one of the original roads made when the Roseneatli block was first cut up. It was a through road from Roseneatli tnorthern end of Grafton Road) down to Evans Baj. There was no footpath at all, and the surface was about as rough as a riveibed. He realised that the city corporation had spent it lot of money on Roseneatli, hut they did ask the council to do something to the road, even if it were only to smooth off about 3tt. of the surface on the seaward side as a footpath, so that people coukl at least walk in comfort over the road without stubbing their toes at eyeiy step ou the sharp outcrops of metal. . Mr D. McLaren said that the residents of the district were one and all ready to forgo other works in order to have this road improved. It was the approach to a large number of residences, and all they were asking for was the provision of a narrow’ footpath. At the same time there were two or three very risky bends in the road, and on a recent occasion when two cars met one went over the bank, lies also inquired if the council had done anything in the matter of improving Low’s Corner, which was a lan-er to the motor-bus traffic, and should have been rounded off from the first. Another important work was under way, in the improvements being made at Grass Street, and in connection with the widening of the Crescent. That road should be surfaced, b “t "°t before’t was widened. At the head of Glass Street, there were eracks, indicating a break away. Now was ‘he opportune time if anything was to be done tlitic. Councillor F. Meadowcrott: Is theie much traffic over Maida A ale Road. . Mr. Moore: Very considerable—it is the only road from Roseneatli to Evans R. Semple: And a good deal of pedestrian traffic? Mr. Moore: Yes. Councillor Semple: Thats an Important point. , , Councillor J. Burns asked it three leet were taken off this 20ft. road, would not the road be even more dangerous lor wheeled traffic than it was at present? Mr. Moore said that they were not asking for a proper footpath, but only wished for 3ft. of the road to be smoothed off, and possibly tar-sealed. He invited the members of the committee to visit the spot, and see for themselves what was required. The chairman (Councillor 11. D. Bennett) said he was pleased to hear that the association recognised that Hoseneath received a good deal of attention nt the hands of the council. He knew Maida Vale Road very well. It was dangerous, and was in a bad state; as bad as some of the roads in Wadestown. Wadestown could boast of several roads as bad as Maida Vale, which it was the councils duty to attend to. If any part of the 20ft. were taken, it would make it more difficult for ordinary traffic, but to do that would be a half-hearted attempt to retnedv the matter. Was it advisable tor the council to spend much money m a patch-work job, when really the only and obvious thing to do was to reconstruct the road? It was of sufficient importance to warrant a big work to be done there —a widened road, and proper lootpath. It was quite possible that this could be done next year. That could be reasonably expected, and the committee would go’into it. The Crescent was entailing a big capital expenditure. The first steps had been taken, under force pi circumstances in the shape of the slip which had occurred there. So it turned out that an “act of God” was enabling a work to be done over and outside the ordinary estimates. While doing that they would begin the widening, which required a concrete wall. It was an ill wind that blew none some good. He was not familiar with Grass Street, but as cracks usually preceded a slip, the officers of the engineer’s department would at once look into the matter. As to the easing of Low’s corner, the council had decided that, failing to got an amicable settlement with the owner (and the officots had failed so far to get that), the property would be taken under the Public Works Act, when they would go ahead, and splay the corner back. Mr McLaren revived the memory of the committee, that many years ago a landowner had given the council a strip of land, and in order to provide a right-of-way from Maida .Vale Road to Little Karaka Bay, but nothing had ever been done. If sqch a right-of-way could be provided, it would tifford some relief to I Maida Vale Road.