MANAWATU GORGE ROAD

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 70, 23 March 1926, Page 8

MANAWATU GORGE ROAD

BUILT LIKE A WHARF

REMARKABLE CONCRETE

STRUCTURE.

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) PALMERSTON N., This Day. An enterprise unique in the annals of road construction in NewZealand, and one which it is stated ranks amongst the most important, undertakings of the kind in the Southern Hemisphere, the corny prehensive improvement of the Manawatu Gorge road, is now virtually completed. The Board of Control met yesterday on the scene of the work, and final details were discussed. The meeting decided to endeavour to arrange an official opening of, the new road in- th« first week in May, and the Prim? Minister will be asked to perform the ceremony. The engineers reported'that the work will be completed in about a month. At present the Public Works Department's steam shovel is removing all slips. . The board's chairman is to inquire in Wellington when the Main Highways Board will actually take over the road, and will also ascertain whether or not it is proposed that the board shall continue its functions in the present manner. As an alternative it has been suggested that local control should Le assumed by two of the adjacent contributing local bodies. After the meeting the members of the board made a tour of inspection of the whole length of the road. The corners have be«n rounded off and the road widened to a comfortable "passing width" for the whole distance. The principle adopted in widening the road was to build out from tie treacherous cliffs on concrete piles, which rest on a solid foundation, ijo matter what distance it was necessary to go down.- The greater part of the road, therefore, is virtually- a balcony, resting like a wharf on piers, the flooring between the outer piles and the inner bank being of stoutly reinforced concrete. It is a splendidly executed work, calculated to stand the test cf ages. Slips will continue to fall; that is recognised; but the Board of Control has not invited further landslides ty digging into the treacherous rock. A strong hardwood railing extends in an almost continuous line along the whole distance, adding to the safety of the road and the sense of security of tie traveller. It can fairly be said that at speeds of about 20 miles an hour the road will be perfectly safe when the remaining slips are cleared away and the small amount "of railing yet io be completed is erected.