LEVEL CROSSINGS

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 120, 16 November 1929, Page 11

LEVEL CROSSINGS

HIGHWAYS BOARD'S VIEWS

MEETING THE COST

The policy of the "Main Highways Board in regard to the elimination and improvement of the railway level crossings is set out in the board's annual report, which shows that eight eliminations were completed during the year under review./ With regard to the problem of tho level crossing generally, the. board has, during the past year, exchanged views with the Eailway Department. Both authorities are prepared to continue to make reasonable sums available' for elimination and improvement of level crossings, but tho cost of elimination is so great that only a very few crossings can be dealt with annually.----"It is agreed," says the report, '' that it would bo advisable to consider the; question of diverting a substantial jyoportiou of the capital expenditure towards the carrying out of improvements to visibility and the installation' of automatic warning devices at a large number of railway crossings. Such a ehaiige in policy during ■ the next year or two would confer much greater immediate benefit upon roadusers than by devoting tho whole of the available funds to elimination work. ■, . ■ , "There are a great number of crossings throughout' the country where the expenditure of a moderate sura could be devoted to tho removal of obstructions on railway property,'oil the roadway, and on private land, resulting in greatly improved visibility and a proportionate reduction in danger to tho road-user." , . , 'The attitude of the Main Highways Board towards these suggestions as far as main highways are concerned is summarised as follows:— (1) Where it is necessary for the improvement of the view at a crossing to remove obstructions on railway property, the board is unable to make any contribution.' (2) AVhcre it. is necessary to remove any obstruction on the roadway, for the purpose of obtaining an improvement to ' visibility, the board will, in conjunction with the local authorities, provide the necessary cost. (3) In cases where' it is necessary to take private land for the purpose of carrying out improvements to visibility,' the board is prepared to bear •half the cost with the Bailway Department. The.board will negotiate with the local bodies, in respect to any, contribution which it thinks should be made by them. - (&)-. The Board is prepared to bear 50 per cent, off the cost of installation of automatic warning devices and 50 per cent, of the annual cost of maintenance of same. • It is also considered necessary by both the Eailway Department and the Main Highways Board that there should be power to enter upon private, property for the purpose of removing obstructions adjacent to level crossings without going to the extent of taking land, but at the present time there is no enabling statutory authority.