WHIROKINO HIGHWAY LIKE SWING BRIDGE

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 166, 17 July 1935, Page 6

WHIROKINO HIGHWAY LIKE SWING BRIDGE

Bounces Up and Down As Lorries Taverse It

MAJOR PROBLEM FACES

AUTHORITIES

The opinion that it was futile spending much money on tho main highway at Whirokino owing to its generally unstable condition, was expressed by the Manawatu County Council yesterday when it was decided to ask the Public Works engineers to visit the locality to sec for themselves the major nature of the problem w'hich faced the county. “With the road in such a soft state as it is at present it is very necessary to block all traffic from using it,” reported Mr 11. V. Bond, engineer to the Manawatu County Council, yesterday in connection with flood damage to the highway at Whirokino. In tho. past, when the water receded sufficiently somo users had broken the barricades and traversed the road, an action which had been the cause of extraordinary damage to the surface. With the conditions now prevailing tho council would have no option but to take drastic action against such olfenuers. Mr Bond added that he felt certain the amount of money- placed on the estimates for the maintenance of the road would now be insufficient, but no indication of the total amount required could be given until the flood water receded. At no time in the last seven weeks had the level of Hie water been lower than G inches from the surface of the road.

Liquid Mud Through Metal The chairman said he and Mr Bond had watched tho progress of a lorryloaded with flax, as it traversed the road just after the water left it. It went up and down the whole way-. In two or three places thcro were indications of black liquid mud coming up. Water was still over the road as a result of the last fresh in the river. The road had sunk with the weight of traffic till now it was little above the level of the land. Tho council could not spend more than it had budgeted for, and the attention of the Public Works Department should be drawn to the situation.

Cr. J. 11. Pcrrctt said it would be futile to spend a lot of money on the road.

'The chairman said the council had had nearby metal supplies in the past, but to-day- those pits were useless and metal had to be taken much greater distances.

The engineer said it cost 12s Gd a yard and some holes would take two or three yards very easily. The chairman said the council had been putting sand on the mud recently and it had proved successful in holding the metal up. Cr. W. D. Reid said he had heard tho road was canting.

The chairman: It wobbles from one side to the other. He added that the time had como when the council had not got a lot of money to spend there, and what had been budgeted would not be anywhero near enough. The council decided to ask a P.W.D. engineer to visit the spot and consult with the chairman and county engineer. Cr. Perrett said no good would come of raising the highway. The more weight put on the more it would go down.

Makerua or No. 60? The chairman referred to a movement being fostered to get a main highway through the Makerua and cutting out No. 60 highway via Linton. He pointed out that tho Makerua was subject also to flood, while the Shan-non-Foxton highway was also affected similarly at times. It seemed, however, efforts were being made to side track No. 60 highway, which must be the main route in winter time. He thought the council should lend its support to Kairanga and Ilorowhenua County Councils, who were fighting for No. 60 highway in preference to the Makerua route. In the interests of the travelling public No. 60 road must be kept. Cr. Reid said he had heard it said tho council was shirking its duty in respect of Whirokino. That was not so. The council had closed the road for the safety of the public. Other councillors agreed that this was the reason.

Cr. Pearce said ho had heard it said Manawatu County Council was causing the Kairanga county hardship by reason of the diverted traffic. The chairman: The traffic is cutting its road out because it is not sealed.. Tho council passed no resolution in the matter.