ROAD TO RUSSELL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20922, 11 July 1931, Page 11

ROAD TO RUSSELL.

DETERIORATION OF SURFACE. SLIPS AND HEAVY TRAFFIC. The new highway to Russell, which was opened last summer, is beginning to show signs of roughness in places, mainly on accctant of slips and heavy traffic. Men are engaged at present in improving the surface. The stream near Punaruke, which is not bridged, has caused little inconvenience. to motorists so far this winter, although traffic was held up for two days at one period and for a day at another. There is also a small unbridged stream afc Helena Bay! The necessity for bridging the two streams will become more pressing as the traffic on the road increases. A start was made some time ago with the widening «Jf the old road between Helena Bay and Mokau, which is very •narrow and tortuous. Some of the corners still require careful driving, but the portion which was widened and metalled has improved the road considerably. Work on this section has been suspended. A slight rise about 200 yards long near Mokau has become very greasy with recent rains and other places in the hills where slips have come across the road have also become slippery and rough. A solid bottom is found in most places, but at a few points the clay has worked up through the metal, making progress slow. Nearer Russell fine shingle is being laid for eight miles or so. About one mile has been completed, but the travelling to Matawai is uncomfortable in places. The shingle is being taken from a paddock at Matawai and the heavily laden lorries passing over the road have cut large holes in the surface. Heavy rain in the past few days has not improved matters. It is probable that traffic will be heavy before the summer and improvements are necessary if the road is to stand up to the increased load.