ELIMINATING LEVEL CROSSING MENACE

Manawatu Times, 25 March 1926, Page 10

ELIMINATING LEVEL CROSSING MENACE

Department’s New Policy For Railway Deviation Seven Overhead Roadways In Palmerston Area

Within a very few weeks the release of Palmerston North from the iron thraldon that has been both its biggest benefit and i ts bane, will have been begun. Plans are now ripe for commencing the railway deviation —that consummation so long and devoutly desired. The work has already been described in detail in the “Manawatu Times,” but there are one or two new aspects of the undertaking that may profitably be made known at this stage.

Of chief import is the fact that Palmerston North will be the first centre to benefit by the Railway Department’s new policy of eliminating level crossings at largely-populated-points. No fewer than seven overhead ways are to be built between Longburn and the northern end of the deviation, an “extra” that is admittedly going to add considerably to the original estimate of the cost of the work.

[By Our Special Correspondent.] WELLINGTON, Last Night. The recent crop of level crossing fatalities has no doubt been one of the main factors in inducing an important and significant change in the Government’s policy in railway building, and I, am given to under-

stand that Palmerston North is to have the benefit of the change in its big deviation scheme. From . a reliable source it is learned that the official surveyors have been again sent over the route of the deviation during the past few weeks for the purpose of planning a series of overhead roadways for

every crossing between Longburn and Kelvin Grove. These crossings will be the first of their kind in the Dominion, although there are one or two of a somewhat similar nature in other lines. The grade of the railway lines is not to be altered from the original plans, but the roads are to be taken over the railway. This, of course, was the original intention at the Rangitikei Line crossing, but now the idea has been extended to include all the crossings with, I am informed, the single exception of the main road to Foxton. Why this particular road, which is one of the busiest thoroughfares iin the province, should be left as a level crossing, could not be ascertained. As is probably well-known to your readers by now, the deviation is to commence with the curve of the line passing the Longburn freezing works, and instead of turning into the present Longburn station will continue diagonally across country, intersecting en route the road running from near the back of the Longburn station to Boundary road. This will be the first of the elevated crossings. Then the line crosses the LongburnRongotea road and Boundary road only about three hundred yards from the intersection of these two busy highways. Thus there will be two elevated crossings within a very short distance of each other. I was unable to ascertain what will be the position at the Cloverlea settlement road, where the line turns to run parallel with Boundary road, but found that overhead roads had been surveyed at Gillespie’s Line, Rangitikei Line, tylilson’s Line, and Setter’s Line. An Easy Grade. Naturally users of the public highways in general and motorists

in particular will be anxious to know how the overhead roads arc to be constructed, their grade and their width. Grade is all-important, and the engineers have fixed this at one in twenty, which seems to be a very useful all-round incline. The roads over the railways will be built solid, and where they cross will he at least twenty feet in height. This would give an overall length from beginning to end of each crossing of about 300 yards. It was difficult to ascertain the exact widths of the roads where they actually cross the lines, but it is known that they differ according to their importance. Rangitikei Line will be at least 30 feet wide, while Milson’s Line will be a little narrower ,and the less important thoroughfares narrower still. The Cost. This important alteration in the plans is likely to add considerably to the cost of the deviation. Questioned on this point, one of the engineers said that while an enormous amount of filling would be needed for each elevated road, they hoped to be able to get it all near at hand. On the northei’n side of Rangitikei Line a good deal of excavation work will be necessary to get an even grade for the double line of rails. The shunting yards which will lie between Rangitikei Line and Milson’s Line will have to be on the level, and as there is a good deal of high land thereabouts plenty of spoil will be available, and this will be used for elevating the roads. Giving this in, however, the cost of the seven elevated crossings is likely to be very considerable.

SPOILING HIS FRONT LAWN. WHAT THE “OVERHEAD” MEANS TO A MILSON MAN. That the decision of the Railway Department to erect overhead crossings at all line intersections should cause concern from property-owners whose sections will be considerably depreciated by the unsightly ramps leading up to these bridges, is only natural. A “Times” reporter, on learning of the Government’s intentions, Visited Milson’s Line, and found that the surveyor had been at work a few days previous. • Mr. F. T. Wevell, whose property adjoins the proposed railway line where it crosses Milson’s Line, on the fringe of the new Railway Department’s suburb, has what appears to be a genuine, if inevitable, grievance. Mr. Wevell’s house stands on a half-acre section and within 30 feet of the road. In order to get sufficient width for the ramp leading up to the overhead bridge, the Department has taken 9 feet of his lawn, across the full width of the section. “You see what it means to me,” he explained. Tt means that with this filling, which will rise to eight feet at my boundary and stretching across my section ,1 h?.ve no access to my house for a vehicle. The only thing I can do is to take a road in through the next section, which 1 also own, but that is by no mcs.ns satisfactory should I wish to sell. Added to that is the unsightliness of the bank of yellow clay 20 feet from my front door. “I came out here four years ago for quietness,” Mr. Wevell continued bitterly. “First I have the railway coming alongside my boundary, and now this happens. We were told that the line would be sunk in a Cutting, but apparently that idea has

been abandoned. The Department can rest assured of one thing; 1 shall go for pretty heavy compensation. 1 consider that my property will be considerably depreciated, and they must be prepared to face that fact." The owner of the property on the opposite side of the road was equally emphatic. Mrs. Moore has after 13 years’ occupation of her property, succeeded in growing a belt of fair sized trees along the road, to protect her house from the severe winds which blow across the plain. “I do not know whether they are taking any of my land,” she told our representative, ‘but if they do it will be a shame. It will mean destroying the trees that we went to so much trouble to grow, and just when they are becoming ,ol use.” TAKING THE LAND. A COSTLY OPERATION. A good deal of speculation has been going on in Palmei’ston North regarding the cost of the land taken for the railway deviation. The various areas have already been gazetted, and plans have been received by the land-owners concerned showing just how much of theii properties has been annexed for the speedway of the iron horse; In one case CO acres have been taken near the junction of Boundary road and Rangitikei Line, and as the estimated value is £l5O per acre, there is the tidy sum of £9OOO for this one piece alone. It will thus be seen that there will not be much left of £50,000 by the time all the compensation claims are settled.