THE MERCER ROAD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19342, 1 June 1926, Page 12

THE MERCER ROAD.

MEETING FLOOD PERIODS. RECONSTRUCTION NECESSARY. HIGHWAY BOARD'S INTENTION. The intentions of the Main Highways Board with regard to the notorious section of the' Great South Road at Mercer, which is now flooded, were detailed yesterday by Mr. M. 11. Wynyard, the Auckland Automobile Association's representative on the board, Mr. Wynyard said the necessity for raising the lew-lying portion of road at the Mercer railway station had been acknowledged by the board for some time. As u link between Auckland and the Waikato, the road was exceedingly important. Owing to its small income, the Mercer Town Board could not undertake to make the road a creditable all-weather thoroughfare. Mr. Wynyard said the Main Highways Board had been investigating the possible improvement of the road for some time. It was a difficult problem, as the road was confined by the Waikato River on the west and the railway line on the east, lhe alternatives were to build a new road on the swamp alongside the present one, or to follow an entirely different, route to the east of the railway line. In either case the road would have to be higher and wider. After consideration, the board had rejected the possibility of finding a new route as a wide and costly detour would be inevitable. Latterly, steps had been taken to plan a road across the swamp and alongside the present route, and an estimate of the cost would be submitted to the board.

''When this information is available, the beard will act with a view to bringing this road up to the standard of the Rangiriri deviation;" said Mr. Wynyard. "In the meantime the board will attend to the maintenance of the two miles of road in the Mercer Town Board's area in order to improve conditions pending the permanent, scheme."

RIVER NOW SUBSIDING. OUTLOOK MUCH BRIGHTER. A FALL OF TWO INCHES. As was expected, the Waikato River at Mercer began to recede rapidly yesterday, u fall of two inches being recorded. The weather was fine, and if rain keeps off conditions should be practically normal in about a week's time. However, the floods are still interfering with traffic, and cars had to be hauled through the flooded portion of the road by horses yesterday. The ferry from Mercer to Maungatawhiri Bridge was also used. Higher-built vehicles are able to traverse the road cautiously under their own power, but most of them prefer not to take the risk. In the town of Mercer conditions are also improving, although several houses are still untenable. Ground in the vicinity of the sawmill is flooded, and the mill is still unable to be worked. A few lines in the station yard are also submerged, but with the present fine weather the outlook is very bright,