ISOLATED CITY

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 9, 6 October 1941, Page 6

ISOLATED CITY

Lesson Of Last Thursday’s Storm NEED OF NEW HIGHWAY EMPHASIZED “The effects of the storm on Thursday and Friday illustrate the vulnerability of the Hutt Road and emphasize the necessity for an additional highway outlet from Wellington being constructed as soon as possible,” said Mr. H. L. Cummings, president of the Ngaio Progressive Association, yesterday. “For a period on Thursday afternoon the Hutt Road was blocked by the Kaiwarra' Stream overflowing its banks at Kaiwarra, and during that time it was practically impossible for road traffic to approach or leave Wellington. The only alternative roads were the circuitous back country road via Makara and Johnsonville, which was blocked with slips on Thursday, and the narrow,- winding farm road between Wadestown. and Ngaio, which also was closed and which is never suitable for main road traffic. The only way of getting in and out of Wellington on Thursday afternoon was by the railway along the waterfront, and that is often damaged by storms. “When the tide receded the Hutt Road was open again, and with the abatement of the rain there was no recurrence qf the flood, but the Hutt Road might be blocked some day by something more permanent than flood water, such as by a heavy slip from the hillside, by an earthquake damaging the road’s foundations, or by bombs or shells aimed at the dock, wharves, foundry or oil stores close to the road. Such occurrences would be likely to destroy tire railway as well as the road.

“The construction of the projected Wadestown-Ngaio road, of a mile and a half, would complete the alternative highway outlet from the city. It would not be so subject to blockage as the existing route, Tho storm ot last week did not close any part of the new route which has already been constructed, and the remaining link, if properly built, would be practically immune from the type of accident that affects the Hutt Road. “The isolation of Wellington on Thursday afternoon drives home the arguments which have been put forward for years, and never contradicted by anyone, that Wellington is in peril while it remains dependent for its connexion with the rest of the country on a bottleneck a few yards wide."

It seemed obvious, even to a layman, that the highway system of the district would be vastly improved by' the con. struction of the Wadestown-Ngaio. link, which would-give a direct road from Karorl to' the main north road, via Ngaio, Khandallah and Johnsonville, the new road connecting up conveniently with Wilton Road; Thus the western parts of the city would bo benefited at all times by the construetion of-the road.

Mr. Cummings remarked also on the Inconvenience that was being caused to the 2500 people living in Ngaio and the southern part of K-handaUah by the closing of Ngaio Gorge Road, so that they were compelled to take the longer route via Onslow Road. Such an accident as the washing out of the gorge road would have been much less serious if there had been a road connecting Ngaio with Wadestown, he said,