OUTLET AT COX'S CREEK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19372, 6 July 1926, Page 12

OUTLET AT COX'S CREEK.

PROGRESS OF IMPROVEMENTS.

NEW ROADWAY NEARLY READY.

ACCESS TO LOWER GREY LYNN.

The improvements to the roadway across Cox's .Creek, connecting the waterfront portion of Grey Lynn with the tramway and main thoroughfare at Heme Bay, are now in an advanced state. When completed within the next few weeks, the work will give the residents to the west much improved traffic facilities. The construction of the widened bridge in concrete and doubling the width of the causeway over the estuary of the creek has been completed and workmen are now engaged in laying down the permanent formation of West End Road leading to the new bridge. Preparations are being made for the construction of a timber bridge over an arm of the creek inside the causeway which will give residents of Regina Sfreet and the immediate vicinity direct access to Jervois Road by way of West End Road. A visit of inspection to these new works was paid yesterday by the Mayor, Mr. G. Baildon. He explained that in addition to the improvements already mentioned it was proposed to erect a low parapet wall in concrete along the seaward side of the causeway from the bridge to the Grey Lynn shore, the City Council having recently authorised the expenditure of the sum of £275 on this work. Road Thirty Feet Wide. Originally West End Road from Jervois Road to the creek was extremely narrow and circuitous, following the contour of the high cliff on the northern side, but this has been widened by cutting back the cliff where necessary. There is now a roadway . 30ft wide, with a properly-formed and tarred footpath on either side. The old wooden bridge at the foot of West End Road was wide enough for only one vehicle at a time, but this has been replaced with a well-designed concrete bridge, having a 20ft carriageway and a path for pedestrians with a width of Bft. The causeway which formerly connected the bridge with the Grey Lynn side of the estuary was also very narrow. While it sufficed for the needs of the outlying district for many years, the growth of settlement on the lower slopes of Grey Lynn and beyond and the consequent increase in traffic of all kinds rendered it inadequate, and the City Council decided to have it widened as part of the improvement scheme. This was done by constructing a sloping stone wall along the seaward side of the road and filling in the gap to the level of the carriageway. This has given a roadway of about 40ft in width, with a pathway on the outer edge. A large fleet of pleasure boats finds an anchorage in the estuary outside the causeway during the summer months and for the. convenience of owners the council has constructed' two flights of concrete steps, leading to the top of the stone embankment, one at the western end of the bridge and the other near the Grey Lynn end of the causeway. These will be greatly appreciated as dinghy landings. Construction of Parapet. It has been noted that at high tide during heavy westerly weather tne seas wash up the slope of the stone embankment and throw spray across the footpath, and to overcome this arid give some protection to pedestrians the council is constructing the parapet, which is now being made in sections on the site. Concrete pillars to be set at intervals of 10ftalong the edge of the wall are being cast in moulds and sections 10ft long to fill in the gaps between are being constructed in the same manner, A feature of the parapet is that its outer edge will conform to the slope of the embankment but toward the top will curve outward with a decided lip, intended to prevent the spray from the waves.from blowing on to the pathway.

Some years ago when Cashmore's mill was operating at Cox's Creek residents in the Begina Street area had access across the creek to the foot of West End Road, but with the passing of the mill this thoroughfare fell into disuse and communication was cut off. Mapy of these residents, although quite close to the Herne Bay cars, were unable to use this service. Population along this shore has increased to, sfcch en extent that the council has now felt justified in giving the residents a crossing and men are preparing to erect a wooden bridge near the site of the old mill. Filling will be required to carry the roadway from Begina Street across the bridge to the bottom of West End Bond and a start has also been made with this part of the work, from the causeway end of the crossing. The cost of the new works, including the two bridges, is approximately £10,600.