RAILWAY CROSSINGS

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 46, 18 November 1929, Page 12

RAILWAY CROSSINGS

WORK OF IMPROVEMENT VERY COSTLY UNDERTAKING “It is agreed that it would be advisable to consider the question of diverting a substantial proportion of the capital expenditure towards the carrying out of improvements to visibility and the installation of automatic warning devices at a large number of railway crossings,” states the annual report of the Main Highways Board. “Such a change in policy during the next year or two would confer much greater Immediate benefit upon roadusers than by devoting the whole of the available funds to elimination work. “With regard to the problem of the level crossing generally, the board has, during last year, exchanged views with tlfe Railway Department. Both authorities are prepared to continue to make reasonable sums available for elimination and improvement of level crossings, but the cost of elimination is so great that only a very few crossings can be dealt with annually. There are a great number of crossings throughout the country where the expenditure of a moderate sum could be devoted to the removal of obstructions on railway property, on the roadway, and on private land, resulting in greatly improved visibility and a proportionate reduction in danger to the roaduser.

“It is also considered necessary by both the Railway Department and the Main Highways Board that there should be power to enter upon private property for the purpose of removing obstructions adjacent to level crossings without going to the extent of taking land, but at the present time there is no enabling statutory authority.”