THE HUTT ROAD

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 123, 25 May 1923, Page 6

THE HUTT ROAD

Those whose fate it is to have to travel frequently over the Hutt road regard its present condition as a scandal. An ordinary macadam surface subjected to such heavy traffic as this road carries can only be kept in order by continuous attention. It is apparent thafc repairs to this important road have been reduced to the minimum (in order to avoid throwing good money after bad), and in consequence it is now in a ruinous condition. But " those >vM Jaftis Jaeift iqgkiog £21^31$ 4a

the commencement of the reconstruction of the road will be disappointed," as Mr. G. Mitchell remarks in his report to the Central Progress League. It appears from his report that the reconstruction of the road in bitumen will not be begun till September, 1924, and will not be finished before May, 1925. This means that the present macadam road, shockingly dilapidated as it is, must carry the traffic for two more winters before the work is even begun. According to Mr. Mitchell, the plant necessary for preparing the bituminous material should be in working order by the end of this year, but will be required for work in the city for the ensuing season—an arrangement justifiable if the city work is more urgent than that on the Hutt road. In the meantime, what is to be done to keep the city's chief outlet fit for its work? Its present condition urgently demands repairs, and the Koad Board cannot evade the duty of putting the surface into such order that it will carry at least another year's traffic with something like comfort to the users.