RAZORBACK DEVIATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19383, 19 July 1926, Page 10

RAZORBACK DEVIATION.

ESTIMATE OF THREE YEARS.

CORRESPONDENT'S CRITICISM.

SHOULD BE FORMED NEXT APRIL.

Criticism of the statement, that the liazorback deviation will take three years to complete is made by a correspondent. "It is some satisfaction to learn at long last that work has been started to open up a route by which it will be possible for travellers to avoid that nightmare, known as the Bombay Hills, or Bombay liazorback," he says. "But the statement that the new road will not' be available for traffic for three y.ears is s6 astounding that some explanation why the work is to be prosecuted in such a leisurely manner should bo forthcoming from the controlling authority."

The correspondent says the whole length of the major deviation is only about six miles, and there are no engineering difficulties to contend with. "Possibly during the next three years it is intended to metal the length or even to surface it in some modern fashion, but there is no reason why at least the formation ■* cannot be completed throughout by tho end of next summer," he says. "The long grades and the northern and southern ends could be formed by unskilled labour and by the obsolete methods which usually accompany relief works But the cost of tho central portion, which is over flat or easy undulating country, could be materially reduced and valuable time saved by letting by contract, thus ensuring that modern methods would be adopted. "In this way no difficulty should be experienced in having the whole length formed and made available for fineweather traffic by the end of next summer. And, further, by delivering crushed metal at convenient points on the byroads during the summer it should be quite practicable to metal that portion of the deviation lying between Pokeno and the, crossing of the Bombay-Pukekohe Road by next summer', and thus cut out what are now the most difficult and dangerous parts of the notorious Eazorback Road."

In conclusion, the correspondent says there is no advantage J in keeping such an important work dragging on for three years. "Get a move on and have it pushed through and everyone will be pleased," he says. "Adhere to the three-year stunt and everyone will be disgusted. The public is entitled to demand that a definite programme be announced whereby all formation can be made available for fine-weather traffic by next April,- and the whole-length be moijallod and mado capable of carrying all traffic in all weather by April, 1928." In reply to this, Mr. L. B. Campbell, district engineer of Public Works, stated the Main Highways Board had not yet considered the estimates for this year. Consequently no programme or policy regarding the road could be made.