MAIN HIGHWAYS

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 18, 22 January 1927, Page 8

MAIN HIGHWAYS

LAYING OF NEW ROADS

The first monthly meeting, for 1927 of the Main Highway Board was; held on Thursday and .Friday, Mr. C. J. M'Ken zie presiding. i>

Last year the board decided to have detailed' engineering: surveys; made with a view of deciding the best route for/ the main artrarial highway, northwards from Auckland. The surveys and plans have recently been completed, and the No. 1 District Highways Council having considered the reports made, decided to recommend the adoption of what is generally known as the eastern route between Auckland and Wellsford through Dairy Flat, Silverdale, and Waiwera. The board is postponing its final decision, however, until it visits the locality next month. It will then take the opportunity of traversing the routes and of obtaining local knowledge to assist it inmaking its final selection. \ " . ' '

A further application for retrospective payment for signposting, carried out by motor associations prior- to. September, 1925, was considered, but,the.board ed that it should not 'pay any subsidies for work done prior to that date. Several applications' for new highways were considered, but all were deferred for consideration in connection with, the annual review of main highways, which is made in March or April of each year.

The following statement shows the more important road works carried out in Wellington and surrounding districts, during November and December:—■

Woodville-Palmerston North: Bridge at Om. 32 chains. Work was continued on the construction of this bridge, but completion has been delayed on account of non-delivery of girders, due to the British coal strike. Manawatu Gorge Section: All, slips which came down during tin recent floods have now been cleared. A light wearing course of metal was laid throughout the whole length of the Gorge in preparation for the Christmas traffic. ;

Wellington-Auckland via Taranaki:— Ngahauranga Gorge Section: Two large concrete culverts have been completed at Om. 37 chains and lm. 56 chains. A total length of 43 chains has been widened to 24ft. Good progress is being made with further widening work. JohnsonvilleTawa Flat Section: "19 chains of this section has been:widened to 24ft. A number of concrete pipes have been installed, and a stream diversion constructed. Hutt County' Section: Between Pafeinata and Horokiwi Valley, 18 chains of road has been widened and metalled. Further widening and metalling is in progress. Between Paekakariki and Waikanae, widening and metalling is in progress. Horowheua County Section: Between Waikanae and Manakau 8% miles of road is in the process o£ reconstruction. A foundation course of crushed metal has been laid and is now being rolled. Between Manakau and Levin the,bituminous macadam has received a sealing coat. Leviii-Pal-merston North via Shannon: Between. Levin and Waoku Stream 4 miles of formation work has been practically completed, and 2 miles of bituminous macadam constructed. . . . ■

Wellington-Napier via Wairarapa:— Lower Hutt Borough Boundary to Taita Gorge: 50 chains of bituminous concrete 18ft in width has been constructed. Greytown- Waiohine Bridge: This length of bituminous macadam has j received a sealing coat. Carterton Borough Boundary to Waingawa. Bridge: 66 chains of. this length has been formed up and re-sur-faced 24ft in width in readiness for bituminous work. Ruamahunga River to Faulkner's Bridge: A considerable amount of .widening'work and improving of curves has been, carried out on this section. Faulkner's Bridge to Eketahuna Borough Boundary: Fair progress is being made with the construction of the;"deviation on this section; 7% chains of formation has been completed. Konini Bridge-Makakahi River: The approaches to this bridge have been -formed and metalled. Warren's Bridge: The formation of the approaches to this bridge is nearly completed. Masterton-Tinui: —Rorokoko Deviation: A large culvert has been constructed on this deviation, and formation work is in progress. Awatoa Bridge: A. commencement has been made with the construction of this bridge, eight miles having, been driven. Pahiatua-Pongaroa: Allen's Bridge—This bridge has been completed except for the removal of tha boxing. Ngaturi Bridge: Two piers have been partially completed.

Featherston-Martinborbugh: From Featherston Borough Boundary towai-ds Jlartin'ooi'ough, the road has been widened •"••;;! re-surfaced'in-preparation for tar sealing. A %-mile.of tar sealing has also been completed. The formation work at Knoll's Cutting and Bidwell's Cutting has been completed.