SHORTER AND SAFER

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 148, 19 March 1931, Page 8

SHORTER AND SAFER

Porirua-Paremata Road ELIMINATING THE BENDS The important work which is proceeding on the main north road between Porirua and Paremata will, when the complete scheme is carried out, have the effect of saving three-eighths of a mile in a distance of three miles, apart from the fact that motor traffic will be able to proceed at a greater speed than 20 miles an hour and with greater safety. The work was commenced at the Paremata ond, where about 60 chains of new road has been or is being constructed, taking out the first three bends of an acute nature after leaving the township. A noticeable improvement has beeen made by cutting away the bluff near the station, at the entrance to Paremata from the Wellington side. This involved the removal of about 2000 cubic yards of' spoil, which was used to make the new road, and only had to be carried a short distance. As the spoil has been put down in layers the carting over it has consolidated it, and a good length of the new road has now been in use for about a fortnight. There are 40 unemployed men engaged in the work. The further extension of the work will depend upon the amount of money made available by the Main Highways Board, but the complete scheme includes straightening from Paremata to a point north, of Porirua station. Little will be done in the neighbourhood of Porirua station until the question of the overbridge has been settled. Some trouble has been experienced in putting in the culverts in the new road formation. The high northerly winds which prevailed in January brought unusually high tides in their train and impeded the work considerably. All these culverts are extensions of the existing culverts on the railway track. The highgrade blue metal used for the road surfacing was obtained from the Tawn Flat tunnel, but the new road will not be given any bitumen coating until the new formation has thoroughly consolidated.