DANGEROUS CROSSINGS

Evening Star, Issue 22938, 21 April 1938, Page 10

DANGEROUS CROSSINGS

EIGHTY-EIGHT TO BE ELIMINATED EXTENSIVE PROGRAMME FOR OTAGO STEADY PROGRESS BEING MADE The elimination of level crossings in the Otago highways district by the Public Works Department is proceeding steadily, and many of the 88 crossings that are to be eliminated have already received attention, ' The district engineer (Mr P. Keller) , states that much work is under way on the north road between Oamaru and Dunedin, The subway at Deborah and tho bridge at Kartigi are completed, while work is nearing completion on the Waianakania bridge. This should be open to traffic in a few weeks. Tlye approaches to the crossing at Palmerston are being raised, and a start has been made with the bridge itself. The level crossing elimination _ at Maheno involves extensive river bridging. • The survey has been completed, but the final plans for the work have not been prepared. Plans are, however, being drawn up for a bridge to be constructed where the road crosses the railway line just north’of Waikouaiti. SOUTH AND CENTRAL OTAGO. To tho south of Dunedin bridges have been erected at Lovell’s Flat and Clarksville, the latter being on the Mil-ton-Qiieenstowii road. Surveys have been made at Waipahi and Wairuna, but the plans have not yet been started upon. A deviation in the Cromwell Gorge has resulted in the elimination of two crossings. There is a great deal to be done, but what has already been achieved is of material benefit, and means an important contribution to road safety. Several of the 88 crossings on the list are in outlying districts, on branch lines where perhaps there is only one train a day. These crossings naturally will be the last to receive attention. The intensity of motor traffic, the extent of train traffic, and the' visibility at ail four points of approach have had important bearings in deciding the order of urgency of tho crossings to be dealt with.

' There is a possibility that in a few instances where bridging would involve heavy expenditure in construction, it may be decided to be a more economical factor to install a 11 ossing-keeper, as has been done at the Rattray street crossing in Dunedin. In these cssm it would need to be considered whethe. in the long run this might not be a cheaper proposition than building a bridge, it is stated, although motorist probably would prefer the judge.