Broader Outlook Acquired On Highway Needs

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23217, 31 March 1950, Page 4

Broader Outlook Acquired On Highway Needs

ENGINEER’S COMMENT

Satisfaction with the interest shown in claims for highway improvements in the Gisborne district and hopes that a longrange policy would b.e embarked upon to eventually provide a sealed highway between Gisborne and Taneatua were expressed at the quarterly meeting in Gisborne yesterday of the Gisborne and East Coast

Regional Planning Council-

Comments on the highway situation in the light of the recent inspection by the No. 1 District Highways Council and the visit of the Main Highways Board which followed were given to the meeting in a letter from the resident engineer to the Ministry of Works at Gisborne. Mr. D. B. Dallas. To his knowledge. Mr. Dallas stated that the comprehensive tour of the council was about the first of its.kind in New Zealand

“From mv viewpoint 1 feel that the district as a whole must benefit as a result of the broader outlook which all parties were able to acquire on district needs, he continued.

"This fact was demonstrated during the visit of the Main Highways Board, whose members were obviously impressed bv the high degree of unanimity reached bv all local authorities whom t'nev met. It can now be said that everything that could be done to present a good case to the Mam Hh-bwavs Board on behalf of this district has been done.

Kopua Hill and Waioeka Gorge

“In regard to State highways, the future programme of improvements envisaged bv this office was endorsed in a general way by the board. Certain works, such as the Kopua Hill deviation. or the alternative sealing more or less the basis of Kopua Hill were discussed and a decision is expected after the first meeting of the board in Wellington.

“It was generally agreed that that particular deviation was desirable sooner or later. However, the funds available for highway work • in the immediate future may not be sufficient to cover the maior scheme while other more essential work remains to be done

“The board was most favourably disposed to consider improvements to the Waioeka Gorge, and I think that if it had to be Kopua Hill or the Waioeka Gorge most of the members of the regional council would agree that the latter should take priority. Kopua Hill is not dangerous and is not, after all, much different from the standard of roading over the Whareratas. “Assuming the main deviation is deferred in the meantime (and this cannot be regarded as certain) there should be no difficulty in completing the whole of the sealing of the Morere route within the No. 4 highways district next summer.

“Until our 1950-51 estimates are prepared and approved there is not much point in attempting to list the probable works for the coming season. We have been warned that there may not be as much finance available for construction works as this year, but that there would be no reduction in the allocation for maintenance.

“If we are obliged to accept less for construction the bridge renewals will at all times claim first priority. I fell confident that this district will receive the most favourable consideration possible and that further substantial improvements on our highways will be possible within the next 12 months. “There appears little doubt that we will not onlv be able to carry sealing to the bottom of Otoko Hill, but that certain improvements on the itself b-' possible preparatory to sealing there. Claris’ Fou‘~ “We also have hopes of being able to start next season to extend dustless surfacing on the Coast highway from Tolaga Bav northward. The board appeared to take for granted a continuous programme at least as far as Tokomaru Bay during the next year or two. I personally feel confident that when that goal is reached the work will not stop there. ‘'lmprovements f o ( b-> old pavements, on the ou’skirts of Gisborne were not overlooked, but- the district highways council considered that if necessary this work should take second _ priority to the extension of new sealing. At least some members of the board thought as I did that it would be a pity to smooth these old pavements without prior widening to the standard of new work ahead.

“It will b-> dear that despite Element references to relative traffic tallies here and elsewhere in the country members of the Main Highways Board w r ere disposed to favour further real progress. Moreover, there appeared to be general satisfaction with what has already been achieved since their last visit and the quality of the new work.'

Mr Dallas was accorded a vote of thanks for his report, and the interest shown bv highways officials and the department in Gisborne was commended.