ROAD CONDITIONS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21793, 7 May 1934, Page 11

ROAD CONDITIONS

NORTH ISLAND ROUTES EFFECT OF WET WEATHER The main touring routes through the centre of the North Island have suffered to a certain extent from the recent storms, according to the touring manager of the Automobile Association, Mr. R. E. Cbamptaloup, who has spent the past few flays motoring through tho North Island after his tour of South Island roads and resorts.

Mr:- Champtaloup stated that the bridge on tho main north road from Wellington which gave trouble on Saturday was a temporary structure in use at Porirua pending the erection of a new bridge. The damage was quickly repaired by the laying of temporary decking. He also stated that many of the roads which had not been permanently sealed were becoming badly pot-holed, while in other places corrugations had developed to an uncomfortable degree. Two sections of the highway between Taumarunui and Te Kuiti have been causing some inconvenience to traffic. A five-mile stretch a little north of Ongarue and another shorter length just south of Mapiu, where construction work in widening and straightening has recently been carried out, became very greasy, and in places ruts developed in the soft pumice surface as a result of the heavy rain. Conditions were improving last night, but tho touring manager is of the opinion that, if there is more heavy rain immediately, motor drivers inexperienced in these conditions will bo well advised to "avoid the route temporarily. A metalling contract which is in progress will prevent any likelihood of trouble during tho winter. Mr. Champtaloup said the pot-holed condition of the central highway via Taumarunui in the Auckland province was the worst he had experienced in 4000 miles of travel during the past month.