HIGHWAY DEVIATION

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4812, 19 July 1939, Page 3

HIGHWAY DEVIATION

ELIMINATE MAHOENUI SADDLE. AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION PROPOSAL. The Automobile Association (Taranaki) has decided to urge the authorities to deviate the New PlymouthAuckland State highway to cut out the Mahoenui Saddle, long known as a “motorists’ nightmare.” Reviving a suggestion advanced some years ago by representative Taranaki organisations the association will reemphasise the advantages of the Totoro Valley route. This would leave the present highway at the Mahoenui school, strike inland to Aria and return thence to join the main road at Pio Pio.

“That would eliminate the saddle in favour of a level road only a few miles longer than the present hilly route," said Mr. W. T. Guild, president of the association, when commending the proposal. He described the saddle traverse the worst piece of road between Auckland and Wellington. The deviation was first suggested many years ago by the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce, which was supported by the Te Kuiti Chamber and the Aria Settlers’ Association. When representatives of those organisations rode through the valley on horseback they were impressed by the expanse of fertile country that would be opened up as well as by the easy grade.

Strong representations on that occasion were not successful, but the Automobile Association believes conditions have so changed in recent years that the time is appropriate to urge reconsideration of the question. It is pointed out that now that the Main Highways Board has adopted a standard width for highways it would practically mean the construction of a new road if it were decided to adhere to the present route and improve the Mahoenui Saddle. “It would be cheaper and better to develop the Totoro Valley route, which has great economic possibilities,” said Mr. Guild.

The executive of the Automobile Association intends to seek support for the proposal from the TaranakiChamber of Commerce and the local bodies of the Te Kuiti district.