DANGEROUS CROSSINGS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22466, 9 July 1936, Page 14

DANGEROUS CROSSINGS

ELIMINATION SCHEME BRIDGE AT RUATANGATA [hy telegraph—special reporter] WHANGAKEI, Wednesday In keeping with his promise that in tlio plan to eliminate railway crossings the most dangerous points would be dealt with first the Minister of Public Works, Hon. 11. Scmple, pave an undertaking to-day that the Ruatangata crossing, on the highway between Whangarei and Hikurangi would be eliminated as soon as the necessary plans could be prepared. He indicated that the work would be started in approximately two months. lit a morning tour the Minister saw all railway crossings between Whangarei and Hikurangi, among these being one at Kamo and two at Kauri. The Ruatangata crossing is near the bottom of a fairly steep grade in the road and it is proposed to carry the road across the line hv a bridge which, with approaches, is estimated to cost £7OOO While on the inspection the Minister saw a deviation of the road about half a mile south of Hikurangi, which has removed two bad crossings. Formerly the road crossed and reerosscd the line within a space of a few hundred yards, but by keeping the road to the left of the line and moving the line to the right at one point it has been possible to do away with two dangerous crossings at comparatively little cost. One of these crossings was the scene of a bad accident when a bus loaded with people going to a dance was wrecked by a train and several people were killed. The new deviation has been opened for trallic within the past week.