WATERFRONT ROAD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20898, 13 June 1931, Page 8

WATERFRONT ROAD.

LAST SECTION IN HAND. WORK AT KOHIMARAMA. STEADY PROGRESS BEING MADE. Not many months should pass before motorists, who have learned to appreciate the attractions of the Waterfront Road from the city to Mission Bay, will be able to drive along the entire length of the magnificent promenade to St. Heliers Bay. The section of the new road from Averill Avenue, Kohimarama, to St. Heliers is at present in use but the gap between Mission Bay and Averill Avenue compels traffic to climb the'intervening - bluff. Steady progress continues to be made with the construction of the portion of the roadway which will fill this gap and already the linking of the two formed portions is. in sight. The most interesting portion of the work now in hand is that across the landward side of the Kohimarama beach. At one time it was proposed to carry the roadway across the beach from point to point, and there was considerable apprehension lest this popular playground should be destroyed. However the City Council decided to acquire certain of the private properties and give the road a sweep around the shore line. _ This is now being done and the wisdom of the step is evident. Ifc' was necessary to move the Kohimarama Hall back some feet and yesterday workmen were dismantling a dwelling at the eastern end of the gap which was recently sold for removal. From Mission Bay the road has been built up to the new alignment as far as the Kohimarama Hall, the stone retaining wall having been finished for the entire length of that section, with the excerption of the short length necessary to make the connection with Bice Avenue at the juuetion with Waipareira Road. j The kerbing and channeling on the sides of the carriageway are in hand and when that work is done the road will be ready for metalling i and surfacing. Ate the point near the Kohimarama- Hall where the high retaining wall ends, a ramp has been made to give easy access to the beach. From the ramp to Averill Avenue the outer edge of the road is .to be supported! for the greater part of its length by a low vertical wall. The estimated cost of the section from Mission Bay to "Averill Avenue, including compensation for properties taken, is £44,000. Also it is estimated that the grant from the Unemployment Board on the basis of pound for pound for labour will be about £12,000, leaving the City Council to find £32,000. Negotiations with property owners have been completed with the exception of the amount to be paid in respect of one property, but this is not holding up the work.