THE GORGE ROAD

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 4, 5 July 1938, Page 8

THE GORGE ROAD

' AN IMMEDIATE START

ALTERNATIVE ROUTES

FIFTEEN MONTHS' .WORK

Arrangements for the handling of traffic to and from Wellington while the Ngahauranga Gorge Road is being realigned—in fact, transformed into a new* main highway—were I discussed at a meeting of the City and. Suburban Highways Board yesterday afternoon with the Acting Engineer-in-Chief of the Public Works Department, Mr. A. J. Baker, and officers of the Main Highways Board. Doubts were , expressed whether the work: could be carried out before the opening of the Centennial celebrations, and there were fears therefore whether the alternative routes could handle the additional traffic, but an assurance was given that, by the use of modern plant, the work could be completed within fifteen months. An immediate start is to be made. The Gity vand" Suburban Highways Board reported the matter on to the City Council, which last night unanimously endorsed the proposal, subject to an .arrangement being made for the diversion of certain highways loan money (£8600) for use in making the alternative approach roads more suitable for traffic while the Gorge Road is closed. Councillor W. .Appleton, chairman of the works committee, expressed his opinion that the work to be done in the gorge was altogether in the best interests of Wellington. CITY ENGINEER'S COMMENTS. The difficulties which would be experienced during the Exhibition period if the Ngahauranga Gorge Road was then closed to traffic were stated by the City Engineer, Mr. K. E. Luke, in a report to the board. Mr. Luke stated that he had discussed the proposal with the Acting Engineer-in-Chief, Mr. A. J. Baker, , and with other officers of the Public Works Department, and had expressed the opinion that it would be better to defer the work.until after the Centennial year, ifor he had grave doubts ■whether the work could be completed prior to the opening of the Exhibition. He was advised by Mr. Baker that that was not possible, as it was the Government's intention to proceed with the work immediately, and that the Department intended to complete the work prior ,to November, 1939, when the Centennial celebrations would commence. The Public Works Department, said Mr. Luke, had stated that it would investigate the question of maintaining access to the city abattoirs, but had intimated that that access would probably be confined to the lower portion of the road at the Hutt Road junction. HEAVY TRAFFIC ON ALTERNA-TIVE-ROUTES. A main point discussed at*the conference, stated Mr. Luke, was the amount of traffic which would have to be handled on alternative routes. As the Ngahauranga Gorge Road was to be proceeded with immediately work on the alternative roads could not be completed before those roads Were called upon- to carry additional traffic,' and lie considered that the Government should assist the City Council to meet this unexpected problem by contributing towards the ; cost of contingent works and by the provision of additional - ; traffic inspection at dangerous pointy 1 along the alternative routes. Mr; Baker had replied to those suggestions that it was not the policy of the Department to assist in /that ] manner, -but only in providing a- contribution to meet extraordinary maintenance costs which might be thrown upon the alternative routes, but it was suggested that a capital contribution might be made to certain essential works. NONE SATISFACTORY. The three alternative routes, said Mr. Luke, were (1) via the new Pahautahui Road to the Lower Hutt; and 'thence along the Hutt Road; (2) via the recently constructed _ roadway from Johnsonville to Khandallah, and thence via Onslow Road to the Hutt Road; and (3) via Johnsonville, Khandallah, and Ngaio, thence via the Ngaio Gorge Road to the Hutt Road. "Not one of these tliree alternatives can be considered as a satisfactory alternative route to the Ngahauranga Gorge Road, nor as a combination can they, in their present condition, be considered adequate to deal with the normal flow of traffic, let alone any extraordinary traffic which may be expected during the Centennial celebrations," said Mr. Luke. The new Pahautanui Road was of splendid width, gradient, and alignment, but was a new road in hilly country and might be expected to be subject to serious slipping and temporary blockage during ■winter months. The most difficult problem was the length from Melling to Lower Hutt, which was not capable in its present width or construction of being constituted a first-class traffic road. He understood that the Government had proposals to re-align and widen this length of the Western Hutt Road, but this work up to the present time had not been commenced. The recently-constructed roadway from Johnsonville to Khandallah and "thence via Onslow Road to the Hutt Road possessed serious difficulties in that the route passes over a level crossing at Khandallah at which the danger would be intensified by the more frequent service and more silent form of transport .when the electric railway service was operating. Several points of improvement at this crossing were suggested by Mr. Luke, who added that the works necessary would not be of a costly nature. Some means of traffic control would be essential at the junction of Onslow Road with the Hutt Road if Onslow Road was required to carry any large volume of traffic.

The route via Johnsonville, Khandallah, and Ngaio and the Ngaio Gorge Road had - a bad feature in the oneway timber^...bridge at the foot of Boxhill, with dangerous approaches.

Some years ago it was proposed to construct a two-way traffic bridge, and the Hailway Department was approached, but the reply was then made that as the length of line would in air probability be abandoned, the Department was not prepared to assist. However, in view of the fact that the Government had retained the system and that the line would carry heavy traffic, he considered that the council, should again raise the question of the Government providing an adequate bridge, and as this work —which would be required even» when the new Ngahauranga Gorge Road was completed— could not be carried- out before the gorge road work was commenced; the Government should be asked to proyide a temporary wooden bridge lor

two-way traffic. The only alternative would be "for manual traffic control at the present bridge,, day and night. At one point on this route a major cutting back would be required to give safe visibility, and over one length, widening would be necessary before the road could be considered suitable for heavy traffic. . Lower down the road was exceedingly narrow, .and widening had been under consideration, for many years past. The cost of an alternative means of dealing with this dangerous length of Ngaio Gorge Road, by the construction of School Road to a width of 20 feet, had been estimated at approximately £6000. Unless' the improvement works suggested were carried out traffic control would be essential. The widening work -was. very necessary, but it could not be carried out without finance, and would be difficult while additional traffic was using the route, yet the works were essential if there was any doubt over the Ngahauranga Gorge Road being completed in time for the Centennial ! celebrations. The most urgent improvements on that route, said the engineer, were the widening of the one-car bridge and the construction of School Road, with, additional personnel for traffic control. : -"•■■• A proposal had been already put. forr ward for a new route from Ngaio along the old Sllverstream Road and the Blackbridge Road to Wilton .Road; W.adestowri. The route was suitable for future development as an" access to. the city and was worthy of consideration, but no relief could be, obtained from the development of that new route as it would take, practically as long as the improvement work in Ngahauranga Gorge. DISTANCES BY VARIOUS '. - •;■ ; BOOTES. . . ■ Mr. Luke stated also the comparative distances from the Pahautanui Road to the Hutt Road by the various alternative routes:—Western Hutt Road, to Petone railway crossing at Korokoro, 15 miles; Western Hutt Road to Kaiwarra, 19£ miles; West Coast highway via Ngahauranga Road to Kaiwarra," '16$ miles; West Coast highway, via Onslow Road to Kaiwarra, 162 -miles; West Coast highway via Ngaio Gorge Road to Kaiwarra, 17£ miles; West Coast highway via Onslow Road to Korokoro, 20' miles; West Coast highway via Ngaio Gorge Road to Korokoro, 22 miles. ' < CONCERN ON ONE POINT. Councillor Appleton said that all the local bodies were in accord with the proposal, but they were much conr cerned over the problem of handling the traffic over the alternative roads. Mr, Baker said that it would be absolutely necessary to close the gorge road to all through traffic on account of the big fillings and the great amount of rock .work, but possibly during the first two months' of the fifteen which would be in the work the road' might be used, so giving local authorities'ah opportunity to improve the4 alternative ways.. On- the question of finance, Mr. Baker said that that was City Council work, but he suggested that, as the work was capitalised, a "contribution might be given by the Main Highways Board, and, in reply to further points, suggested, with 'out committing himself, that the Main Highways Board and the local authorities, concerned in the several roads should contribute to the cost of necessary/work on a 50-50 basis. .Councillor Appleton said that the local; Highways Board had about £8600 of loan moneys in hand, and that if1 that-could be used it might meet the position. Statutory authority would be required'*'tq allow that to be done, said Mr. Baker. Mr; Luke." said he agreed with the Main Highways Board that it would be a mistake to hold the work up, and suggested that they concentrate on the three most urgent works, the provision of a stock route, the completion of the School Road diversion at Kaiwarra (which would proyide for one-way traffic at the footf of Onslow Road), and strengthening the bridge at Boxhill. The Kaiwarra School Road could be proceeded with at once. Mr. R. G. Mexted made a special plea that consideration should be given the people of Newlands. If a little work was done on the old road, which came out near the bottom of the gorge, they would have an access to the Hutt Road, instead of haying to go all the way up through Johnsonville. Mr., Baker said.that he would see what could be done; . CONDITIONAL APPROVAL. Upon the motion of Councillor, Appleton the meeting expressed its approval of the proposal, subject to an arrangement being made as to the cost of dealing with the alternative roads, and a committee consisting of the Mayor, Mr. T. C. A. Hislop, and Councillor C. H. Chapman, Mr. R. G./Mexted XMakara County Council)., Mr. J. B. Yaldwyn (Hutt County Council), Mr J. W. Andrews (Lower Hutt Borough Council), and Mr. G. A. Lawrence (Johnsonville Town Board), was appointed to confer with the Main Highways Board and the Public Works Department. . ' Following-the general discussion, a further conference took place between the representatives of the Department and the special committee of the board at which agreement was reached upon points of apparent difficulty, and. last ni"ht a recommendation was made to, and approved' by, the City Council that the proposals of the Mam Highways Board should be agreed to, subject to the Government's sanction being secured to the diversion of the' unexpended balance (£8687) in the Suburban Highways Loan for the purpose of assisting .to finance the cost of the necessary improvements to the alternative routes, and to sufficient J •financial assistance being given by the Main Highways Board for the construction of a. stock route from Johnsonville to "the abattoirs and for improvements and maintenance of the alternative routes. Councillor W. Appleton, chairman <?f the works committee and acting chairman at the meeting of the City and 'Suburban Highways Board, said'that a definite assurance had been given that the improvement of the Ngahauranga Gorge Road would*be completed within fifteen months. The City and i Suburban Highways Board was quite of the opinion that the steps proposed by; the Government were absolutely in the best interests of Wellington.