NEW HIGHWAY

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 94, 14 January 1939, Page 10

NEW HIGHWAY

Ngahauranga Gorge Changes

SPECTACULAR WORK

Visitors Inspect Progress On Big Job

At the invitation of the Minister of Public Works, Mr. Semple, and under his leadership, a party that included the two I asinanian J

politicians who are visiting New Zealand, yesterday inspected the spectacular activities of the Public Works Department in the Ngahauratiga Gorge, where a nearly straight highway is being built to replace the old tortuous road.

In the five months since the road was closed for reconstruction, the landscape in the gorge has become’unrecognizable. Even in the last two month) there have beep vast changes. The diversion of the stream so that it would flow down the old 'bitumen road appeared an important task when it was done, but yesterday that work seemed insignificant when the visitors stood on a filling 80 feet directly above the old bed of the stream and looked down at the water. Great Fillings. Further up the gorge work on the saddle cut has progressed so far that trucks and machinery can now go through the cutting, approximately along the route of the uew road. This section of the work will isolate from main road traffic that part of the road that gives access to the abattoirs, the bitumen mixer site and the old quarry. The hill is being lowered and at the same time the gully alongside, which used to have the old road at the bottom, is being filled in. A ferro-concrete culvert, 225 feet long and eight feet high, with an arched roof, is being built to carry the stream beneath the tilling. In the upper part of the gorge, immediately below the Newlauds Road junction, one of the most spectacular operations is in full swing. From; the old bitumen road, which is stili intact and exposed at this point, the visitors looked up at bulldozers working 115 feet above. On either wall of the v< ley was a tip-face, at the top of w.t'ich the blade of a bulldozer, dwarfed by the surroundings, appeared periodically when its driver pushed a load of spoil over the edge. When the filling is finished the bulldozers will have lowered themselves to within about 30 feet of the stream, the level of the new road. The spoil is being heaped above twin six-feet pipes that will carry the stream under the road. Contract System. Amid the clattering tractors, wagons, show's and drills Mr. Semple described the work and expounded the advantages of the contract system. Men were getting 30/- a day, he said, but were earning it. On the way up the party watched holes being drilled in the ground and charged with explosive. On tlie way down they saw the ground heave as the shots were fired and saw a Diesel shovel and motor-trucks move in and start moving the loosened material. Later they stopped to see one of the wagons dump its load of 16 tons. About 5000 yards of spoil is being shifted each day. The party included the Tasmanian State Treasurer, Mr. Edmund DwyerGray, Mr. J. McDonald, Honorary Tasmanian Minister, the Minister of Internal Affairs, Mr. Parry, the Concul for Belgium, Mr. A. Nihotte, the ViceConsul for the Netherlands, Mr. M. F. Vigevino, the mayor of Wellington, Mr. T. C. A. Hislop, the deputy-mayor, Mr. M. M. F. Luekie, Mr. H. E. Combs, M.P., and Mr. J. R. Quinn, secretary to Mr. Dwyer-Gray. Enthusiasm Impresses Mayor. “The visit was full of interest and the work most progressive,” said Mr. Hislop later. “I was particularly struck with the up-to-date machinery and the activity and enthusiasm of the men working on the job. It is apparent that the system of co-operative contract work with payments by results is the most efficient method of doing this work. “I understand that this road is expected to be completed and in use in time for the opening of the Centennial Exhibition. If, as I confidently believe, the work is then completed, it will be a record in road construction in this country. The whole thing reflects the highest possible credit on the Minister, his department and all responsible for the manner in which the work is being done. “In speaking of the Ngahauranga Gorge Road it is well to refer also to the road being built from Paekakariki round the coast. Though I have not had an opportunity of seeing this, I understand it also will be completed in time for the opening of the exhibition. This work is being carried on with the same enthusiasm and efficiency, and when both are completed the main road entrance to Wellington will be unsurpassed in New Zealand.”