WESTERN HUTT ROAD

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 17, 14 October 1933, Page 22

WESTERN HUTT ROAD

Alternative Route to Wairarapa

COMPLETION URGED A deputation from the Hutt County Council waited upon the Minister of Public Works, Hon. J. Bitchener, and requested him to make the Western Hutt Road an alternative outlet from Wellington to the Wairarapa. The chairman of the Council, Mr. L>. R. Hoggard, said that the main road from Wellington to the Wairarapa ran through the gorge, and was liable to blockage from slips and erosions. On the other side of the river there was a road nearly the whole way. but a bridge was required at Silverstream. If that road could be .completed there would be an alternative route which would be useful when the other road was blocked. The Hutt County felt that it would like to press for Government assistance in getting the Western Hutt Road finished. It was not a county matter as much as a district matter. It was a most suitable work for the unemployed. The Hutt County had arranged for the giving of the necessary land by the owners concerned, thus enabling the £pad to be constructed, and he understood now that it had been suggested that not only should the new piece of road be constructed, but that the whole of the Western Hutt Road, commencing a little north of the Lower Hutt railway station (where there was a level crossing) should be widened and made into a proper main thoroughfare. The Hutt County had negotiated for the land, and it was prepared to face the cost of survey. It was suggested that the rest of the cost should be a charge on the unemployment fund, with such necessary assistance from the Public Works vote as the Government could see its way to allocate.

The Minister said he had inspected the road, and was in sympathy with the deputation. The total cost of the whole work would be £139,000. When one took intef consideration the large number of unemployed in the Hutt Valley for whom work hajd to be found, he considered the work very suitable. He was very interested to learn what the Hutt County was prepared to do. The large expenditure involved was due to the fact that the road would be tip to a proper highways standard. He understood that the work would take two years to complete. He would get in touch with the Unemployment Board, and if it was favourably inclined he would have no hesitation in taking the matter to Cabinet.