LEVEL CROSSINGS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 36, 11 January 1939, Page 8

LEVEL CROSSINGS

STEADY ELIMINATION.

PROGRESS WITH WORK.

AVELLINCTON, Jan. 11. Substantial progress is being made with the programme for eliminating dangerous railway crossings on main highways. During the financial year ended March 31, J 938, 50 crossings were dealt with, compared with 15 ior the previous year, and since March last 23 more crossings have been eliminated. File number of crossing accidents reported from time to time shows the necessity for removing these danger spots, and very much safer conditions now exist where road traffic has been separated from railway traffic by the erection of overbridges or by the construction of subways. Cases where proposals have been deferred in the meantime generally relate to crossings in boroughs, townships, i and other closely built-up areas where, interference with property would involve costly schemes. In these localities traffic speeds are usually restricted, thereby minimising danger to some extent, and automatic warning devices . have been installed. j This arrangement allows ol immediate attention being concentrated upon dangerous crossings on trunk routes in rural areas where expenditure can ho applied toward securing the immediate elimination ol a greater number of level crossings. When the rural elimination projects are well advanced, further considers- , tion is to be given to proposals ior , dealing with open crossings in built-up localities. ( | During the year ended March 31 last. | almost, £300,000 was expended on the elimination of dangerous level highway- , crossings on main highways. At that date the total amount spent by the i Main Highways Board since the start ! of the present major programme m ; 1937 was £400,000. ; The. following summary shows the: position as at the end of last j month :

Crossings Completed at March 31. 1938, and not now scheduled 50 Completed -since March 31, 1938 23 Contracts let and/or work in hand •••• 38 Proposals completed (ready for advertising) 9 Proposals in hand 34 Surveys in hand 27 The works comprised in the first three items include, or will include, Oi overbridges, 8 subways, and a numbei of river and stream bridges on deviations.

Details of progress are:— \V ELL INGTON-MAN AW ATI'. Oliau.—Overbridge, design plan completed. Manakau. —Overbridge, completed. Waikanae. —Subway, design plan completed. . Parparaumu.—Overbridge, completed. McKay’s.—Overbridge, scheme plan completed. Porirua.—Overbridge, completed. Ashhurst. —Overbridge, design plan completed. Longburn.—Overbridge, design plan completed. W A NCI AN U l-NORTH WELLINGTON. Kai JLwi.—Overbridge, bridge completed. Ohakune. —Overbridge, site plan in hand. Tangiwai.—Overbridge, scheme plan j in band. . Waiouru S.—Overbridge, investiga- | tion in band. Mangaweka. Overbridge, scheme plan completed. Ohingaiti.—Overbridge, site plan in hand. Vinegar Hill.—Overbridge, work in progress. Cliff Hoad.— Subway, completed. Greatford.—Overbridge, bridge completed. Ball Road.—Overbridge, design plan in hand. Makaranui. —Subway, scheme plan completed. Rochfort. —Subway, scheme plan completed. Wellington Road (Marton). Subway, completed. Bonnv Glen. —Overbridge, completed. WELLINGTON-WAIRARAI’A. Eketahuna N.—Subway. work suspended. N A PIE R- H A WEE’S BAY.

Ohinepaka.—Overbridge, contract let. AVhakatu (S. of Clive). —Overbridge, work in progress. AYaipukurau (N. of). —Overbridge, completed. Ruataniwha Street, Waipukurau. Overbridge, site plan in hand. Talioraiti.—Overbridge, scheme plan in hand. Maharahara*. —Deviation, completed. Papatawa.—Overbridge, contract let. Mangamanaia.—Overbridge, completed. Papatn (Kopua).—Overbridge, design plan completed. Taradale Road. —Overbridge, site plan completed. ‘Maharahara had two crossings. STR ATFOR D-T ARAN AKI. Rugby Road.—Subway, design plan co mpleted. Midhirst. —Overbridge, completed. Ngaere.—Overbridge, bridge completed. Egmont Road. —Stibwav, work in progress. Toko. —Overbridge, design plan completed. Gordon Road.—Overbridge. scheme plan in hand. Douglas.—Overbridge, scheme plan in hand. Sentry Hill. Overbridge, scheme plan in hand. AYniongona.—Subway, design plan in hand. GISBORNE. AA’aikohu, No. 81.—Deviation, work in progress.