STATE HIGHWAYS

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 302, 17 September 1936, Page 13

STATE HIGHWAYS

System of Unified Control Contemplated LACK OF CO-ORDINATION Legislation providing for unified control of the principal arterial highways will be introduced in the near future, according to the Public Works Statement, presented in the House of Representatives yesterday. “The improved standard of the principal roads of the Dominion to-day,” Mr. Semple said, “has been brought about only by the co-operative efforts of the Main Highways Board and the local authorities concerned, but while the position is as I have stated it is considered nevertheless that the existing methods of administration do not adequately cater for present-day needs. "I refer particularly to the divided control of our main highways and the delay and inconvenience which arise through lack of co-ordinated and planned administration. Although many local authorities are possessed of a broad national perspective, there are, unfortunately, others which allow purely local considerations to prejudice their judgment. Road-transport facilities are vital to our national welfare, and communication by land depends at all times on our main traffic arteries being kept up to a high standard of efficiency. Unification of Control.

"Under the present system of control, it has happened that trunk routes remain uncompleted because of the inability or unwillingness of a local authority to contribute a reasonable share of the finance involved. In order to unify the control of the principal arterial highways, and to ensure that such highways are properly conditioned for continuous service, it is proposed to place approximately 4000 miles under the direct control of the Main Highways Board. "This mileage will be selected from existing main highways and classified as a State highways system, so that

the full cost of improvements to a reasonable standard and the proper maintenance of that standard will be provided wholly from the Main Highways Account. This will also relieve local authorities of some financial obligations and enable them to deyote needed attention to secondary highways of local importance as well as ordinary county or settlement roads. . “The necessary legislation to give effect to the foregoing proposaj will be brought down in the near future. I have discussed with the Main Highways Board some of the details involved in the change contemplated, and tentative arrangements have already been made in anticipation of the scheme being brought into operation., “On various occasions it has been declared 1 to be the policy of the Government £o assume the direct responsibility for the expenditure of public moneys, and, as far as possible, to provide for the administration of public activities through the elected representatives of the people. It is therefore proposed to include tn the amending legislation provision for regulating the functions of the board in ’accordance with the policy I have mentioned. “In making this statement, however, I do not wish to detract in any way from what the board has accomplished during the past 12 years, because I fully appreciate the excellent service it has rendered in that period. The extension of the board’s jurisdiction in respect of the proposed State highways system and the intention to retain the board with its present personnel indicate a recognition by the Government /of the success achieved under the board’s administration. Financing from Revenue. “Although the present urgent requirements have not yet enabled the matter to be completely investigated, the financing of highways operations entirely from revenue instead of partly from loan-money as hitherto is also receiving, serious consideration. The progressivo increase in annual loan charges, in respect of highways, norr involves the appropriation of approximately £300,000 per annum, and it is desirable that if at all possible future works be financed from current revenues.

“In order to meet present requirements it is proposed to allocate £1,000.000 from highways funds this year for maintenance purposes. In addition to this sum, £200,000 is being provided for urgent bridge renewals. The problem of replacing decayed and obsolete bridges is still somewhat acute, and, while this class of work is being carried out as expeditiously as possible, further acceleration is largely dependent on the progress that can be made

with engineering surveys, site investigations, foundation-testing and the designing of suitable and economic structures based on the peculiar features of each case.

“A number of construction works are in process of completion, and these will be continued during the present year. In addition, further works comprising reconstruction, realignment, widening of narrow and dangerous sections, general improvements, new bridging and level-crossing eliminations will be undertaken, and for this purpose the sum of approximately £1,300,000 is being appropriated. “The Government has arranged for the Main Highways Board to proceed with ,a vigorous programme of railwaycrossing eliminations, and a considerable amount of investigation and design work has already been completed in this connection. Already a large number of these grade separations are in hand, and within the ensuing 12 months I anticipate that many of the most dangerous locations will have been dealt with. Within the next two years it is hoped to dispose of the majority of the present crossings, thereby removing a considerable source of danger and preventing accident and loss of life which unfortunately result from the failure of road-users to observe adequate precautions when negotiating these danger spots.”

(Thq main items of the Public Works Estimates appear on page 8.)