PAEKAKARIKI HILL ROAD.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 307, 24 November 1934, Page 9

PAEKAKARIKI HILL ROAD.

ALTERNATIVE ROUTE DISCUSSED. WELLINGTON, Nov. 23. Tlie Minister of Public Works, Hon. J. Bitcliener, has given an encouraging reply to representations by Mr AV. JA. Field, M. 8., for an examination to be made of the desirability of constructing a road from Plimmerton to Paekakariki by way of Pukerua Bay and the coastline. The Minister stated that lie will he pleased to give consideration to a report on the proposal, which is now being prepared.

“I have for many years been anxious to see the route front Paremata by way of Plimmerton and Pukerua Bay to Paekakariki adopted as part of the main north-south highway,” Mr Field stated in his letter to the Minister. “The two miles constructed south from Pukerua Bay constitute the first and the bridge and road to Plimmerton (now under consideration by the Main Highways Board! would be the secPnd step toward the construction of this vital national work. The Paekakariki Hill road is the one weak spot on the main road from Wellington North to New Plymouth, Napier, Auckland and the intermediate centres. It will be quite unfit for the main highway traffic of the future. It has many had bends and is therefore dangerous, it climbs 850 feet; it will always he subject to slips. Furthermore, the higher levels of the hill are frequently in winter subject to heavy fogs. The cost of maintaining this road will, 1 fear, always be a serious item. “The location for this main highway by way of Paremata, Plimmerton and Pukerua Bay to Paekakariki has enormous advantages. It is almost straight, without a bad bend anywhere, and therefore of excellent visibility; it will save from four to five miles in distance and, say, twenty

minutes in time; it climbs only 230 feet; it can never be subject to slips except possibly in one short length getting down from Pukerua Bay to the beach level, and it can never be flooded. . . One practical man has assured me that the length of the road where it actually follows the shore could be constructed for £30,000.” In his reply Mr Bitcliener said he thought a certain amount of information was already available, although nothing in the nature of a detailed survey seemed to have been made.