THE WATERFRONT ROAD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20842, 8 April 1931, Page 10

THE WATERFRONT ROAD.

"RED TAPE" DELAYS. ■ . )ll EARLY OPENING DESIRED. MAIN PORTION NOW READY. Il'i OFFICIAL CO-OPERATION NEEDED The waterfront road, the most expensive piece of roadway ever built in the 'Auckland Province, if not in New Zealand, is now ready for traffic for over about three, miles of its length and although permission to use this portion would prove of inestimable benefit to residents of the far eastern suburbs no effort appedi's to be made to open it to traffic. The only explanation so far given for this official disregard of the convenience of the ratepayers who will, after all, pay for the road, is that the road has not been dedicated and must therefore remain closed to traffic, which is compelled to use the hilly and circuitious route over and along the Tamaki ridge. The position savours of red tapo in its worst form.

Officers of the Public Works Department, which is building the road under nrrangemeul with the Auckland City Council, have already stated that the portion of tiie road from Campbell's Point to the western end of Mission Bay is fit to be opened and could have been used during the Easter holidays. The only reason that could be assigned for the failure of the council to throw the road open was that it- is not yet a legal road and that the council has not power to spend money in maintenance while that position obtains. It ,is suggested that the special circumstances connected with the building of this attractive waterfront drive are such that dedication will require a special clause in the " washing-up" Bill and that there is a possibility of this being asked for at the ordinary session of Parliament next October.

Users of the road have complained of the delay likely to occur if earlier action is. not takerf and it has been suggested that the portion to Mission Bay could be dedicated and opened without waiting for. the remainder of the road, from Mission Bay to St. Ileliers Bay, to be completed. first section oi the waterfront road from Campbell's Point to the main headland at Orakei has been available for traffic during daylight hours for some months without the formalities of dedication being considered, but there seems to be reason, beyond official non-co-operation, why the whole of the completed portion to Mission Bay should not be thrown open day and night. It is true that until completion and dedication ttye road will remain under the control of the Public Works Department, but it is not too much to ask that the department, the council and the Auckland ( Harbour Board, which still" owns the land on/which much of the road is built, should confer and reach an agreement by which this £300,000 boulevard can be made available. More than a week ago many private cars made the run to Mission Bay along the new surface and to the untrained eye of these drivers there seemed little danger of the City Council being called to spend any money on repairs during the period apparently needed for the leisurely dedica tion proceedings.