ROAD TO LINTON

Manawatu Standard, Volume LI, Issue 117, 18 April 1931, Page 2

ROAD TO LINTON

LARGE DEVIATION PROPOSED.

HIGHWAYS BOARD’S APPROVAL

Plans for a deviation 32 chains in length to remove the had corner on the main road at Linton were advanced by the Kairanga County to representatives of the Main Highways Board in Palmerston North yesterThe chairman of the board, Mr F. w. Furkert, chief engineer for the Public Works Department agreed that the corner was a very bad one and needed improving. He intimated that the board would give a subsidy of £1 for £1 for the fencing, land and culverting, and the ordinary subsidy for surfacing in connection with the work, which he commended to the attention of the county. APPLICATION FOR SEALING. Mr Jos. Batchelar (chairman of the Kairanga County Council) sought a subsidy towards the cost of one coat ot sealing in order to hold the metal formation on No. 60 Main Highway. Mr Furkert: What is the annual maintenance cost a mile at present? Mr Batchelar: £3OO. Mr Menzies (engineer) said that the camber of the road had been reduced and considerable improvements undertaken. Mr Furkert, signifying Ins informal approval, said it looked as if it would pay to apply a coat of sealing to the road, as maintenance costs for the metalled surface were reaching too high a figure. Representing the Manawatu Automobile Association, Mr McKenzie supported the proposals for improvements to the No. 60 Main Highway and the Himatangi-Foxton Road. Mr Furkert intimated that the matters were receiving attention and arrangements were being put in hand for improvements near the Foxton racecourse. A report would be furnished In a day -or two on the HimatangiFoxton Road. - • Questioned regarding subsidiary highways grants lor the .KairangaBunnythorpe and Milson Line Roads, Mr Furkert said the board could not undertake more obligations until it knew what was going to happen financially. He considered that the Kairanga County was well off with 26 per cent, of its roads as main highways. SURVEY BEING MADE. Consequent on the intimation given by the chairman of the board, arrangements are being made for a survey of the deviation route to eliminate the Linton church hill. There is considerable excavation and filling to be provided for, also two concrete culverts over a creek. The deviation will probably start about • twelve chains on the Palmerston North side of the bend. . It had been proposed to eliminate the bad corner at the next bend in the road towards Wellington by a similar deviation, but only, a five chain curve is being proceeded with. Plans for deviations from Harris’ scuttling and other points have been postponed in the meantime. Forty-five men were employed on widening the Tokomaru Road until the suspension of the No. 5 scheme. About II miles have been completed and another half mile section remains to be done. The matter of the proposed new Kahuterawa bridge to replace the old structure was-, raised, and the county was asked to forward plans. The tentative design provides for a bridge of two forty foot 6pans resting on concrete piers and abutments.