WAIKOHU COUNTY ROADS OPEN TO LIGHT TRAFFIC

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23314, 25 July 1950, Page 6

WAIKOHU COUNTY ROADS OPEN TO LIGHT TRAFFIC

All roads in the Waikohu County are now re-opened for light traffic, although care ha? still to be exercised at mans' places where flood and storm damage caused blockages and necessitated "repairs.

Where wash-outs occurred in the flood week-end, the traffic width is still very narrow and an extensive metalling programme faces the council in making good damage throughout the county.

This Information was given by the county engineer, Mr. S. R. Currie, in a review of the progress made ir, restoring traffic conditions since July 2, when serious dislocation occurred in countv communications. Where a 20ft. spar, was washed out of the Motuhora bridge, where heavy scouring occurred, a 40ft. temporary span has beer, provided pending permanent repairs to the structure. Several other bridges, still being used by traffic, will require to have their abutments strengthened in view of the scouring which took place. Clearing Slips Right Rack

With traffic widths now available on all roads, the county staff and plant are engaged in clearing slips right back, where that Is feasible, and metalling surfaces broken by wash-outs. An important part of the work consists of re-opening blocked culverts, the neighbourhood "of which are generally marked by scouring of the road surface by overflowing storm-water. The programme of restoration is being retarded by lack of suitable labour, and the countv engineer could use the services of at least six additional men if they were available. Among the roads which suffered most severely during the flood period were the Wharekopae Road. Motu Front Road and Otipi Road. In each case a section of the traffic route was carried away bv under-cutting action in an adjacent" stream. The restoration of these routes' is likely to be complicated bv the existence of "creasy-back" strata, and it may be some time before stability is regained.