ASHHURST LEVEL CROSSING

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 7217, 15 May 1930, Page 3

ASHHURST LEVEL CROSSING

Considered Dangerous QUESTION OF OVERHEAD BRIDGE Matters regarding the Ashhurst, Bunnythorpc and Taonui railway level crossings were before yesterday’s meeting of tillc- Oroua County Council when • i letter was received from tho Main Highways Board reporting the agreement arrived at between members of tin. board and the Railway Department to increase the margin of safety to the users of tho highways.

Concerning the Ashhurst crossing the board rccorued the opinion that it was dangerous and the most effective means or overcoming the danger was to construct an overncad bridge. The board recalled that this proposal had been considered before when the Oroua County Council had been approached to contribute 15 per cent of tue cost of such a structure but had refused to agree. Visibility was bad and the ikjw.oval of a railway cottage would mean a slight improvement, but tho board was of the opinion that visibility would not be materially bettered by any minor improvements. The crossing was dangerous, and failing the removal of the railway cottage it was recommended that an over-bridge be erected w ithout delav.

The county engineer (Mr R. L. Harding) reported that the county’s share of the cust of an overhead bridge amounted to £795. ‘■‘The Ashhurst crossing was marked as an urgent job at the last meeting of the District Highways Council,’ said the chairman when discussing the matter, and the Railway Department and the. Highways Board have evidently come to a decision that an overhead bridge should be erected. The point the council had to consider was whether the crossing was dangerous. Councillor R. MacDonald recalled that it was pointed out before that an overhead bridge would ailcct the entrance to the Racing Club’s property and he felt that the danger could be lessened by removing the railway cottage which at present interfered with visibility. “I still hold the opinion that the crossing is not very dangerous,” remarked the chairman, who felt that the removal of the cottage would help the position and would be less costly than the erection of a bridge. Or. MacDonald agreed that the crossinn- was no-t dangerous, although in one sense all level crossings were a source of danger. The Kimbolton road and Terraco End crossings were, in his opinion, 100 per cent, more dangerous than that of Ashhurst. As far as he knew there never had been an accident at this crossing and all trains stopped at the station which was close to the crossing. In a fur her discussion on the subject the chaimr.' ; remarked that tho council had already expressed the opinion that an overhead bridge was not necessary. In any case, if a bridge is to be insisted on then the Pohngina County Council should hear a purtiun of the cost which it was proposed to allocate to the Oroua County. That local body was just as interested as the Oroua County and it wiuld not be right that this council should bo asked to bear the whole of the allocation. It was decided to reply to the Main Highways Board that the council was still of the opinion that the crossing did not warrant, an overhead bridge and visibility could be improved by the removal of the collage and Hie high fence surrounding it and also the cutting down of the trees adjacent to flic crossing.

Reporting on the other crossing, Inc Highways Board remarked that no improvements were necessary at the Taonui crossing which was not. considered dangerous. If at some future date an overhead bridge was contemplated, it would probably require to be built on

a fairly acute skew. The Bunnythorpe crossing was considered dangerous insofar as the steep approaches up to the rail level were concerned. The south road level should be raised and the trees ou the road reserve removed to improve visibility, end (ho installation of a Pearson warning signal was recommended.