HIGHWAY PLANS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22497, 14 August 1936, Page 10

HIGHWAY PLANS

WESTLAND AND OTAGO LARGE EXPENDITURE GOVERNMENT'S OBJECTIVES TOURISTS AND INDUSTRIES ['BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON', Thursday Kxtensive proposals for highway construction in the far south of Westland were reviewed in an interview this evening by the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. R. Semple. The principal works involved are the Main South Road in Westland, running down the coast, and the Haast Pass Road, which will link Otago and Westland. "Although the construction of these two roads, including numerous bridges across rivers in South Westland, will cost a considerable amount of money," Mr. Semple said, "1 am definitely of the opinion that the expenditure is justified. The Main South Road in Westland will be constructed to the month of the Haast River, where it will be linked with the Haast Pass road hv a bridge across the Haast River. The Government has two objectives in completing these roads—the development of the farming and sawmilling industries in South Westland and the provision of a tourist route." Routes for Tourists Mr. Semple said that at present risitot* to the. glaciers and other tourist attractions in South Westland had to retrace their steps if they wanted to go to the hikes of Otago and Southland, while tourists who visited the lakes had to proceed via the east coast to the glaciers of South Westland. The completion of the Main South Road in Westland and the road through the Haast Pass would provide direct cornmunication between the scenic beauties of the two districts. Tourists would be saved a considerable amount of unnecessary travelling, which was an important factor, especially for tourists from overseas wishing to see as much as possible of New Zealand during a limited period. "We had to consider as well whether the Main South Road in Westland should be continued via Jackson's Bay and the Fox River to Milford Sound and Southland, or whether a Connection should he made via the Haast Pass to Wanaka and the other lakes of Otago," added the Minister. "1 decided in favour of the Haast Pass because a road leading directly to the lake country of Central Otago would bring tourists quickly to a central point from which they could diverge to the various tourist attractions with little loss of time. The Shipping of Timber

"The lakes of Otago can be reached most quickly from" the glaciers and other scenic attractions of Westland by a road over the Haast Pass, and from Pembroke or Queenstown, tourists could travel directly to Mount Cook or Milford Sound if they did not have the time to visit both. If still further pressed for time they could travel direct to Dunedin." The Minister also pointed out that a road from the mouth of the Haast to Milford Sound would provide a direct route to the glaciers of South "Westland for overseas tourists landing by steamer at Milford After considering all the circumstances he had decided first to complete the road over the Haast Pass. However, it might be necessary to continue the Main South Road as far as Jackson's Bay for shipping timber and other produce. The completion of the road from there to the Milford Road now under construction would then receive serious consideration.

Mr. Semple said that works recently approved included the construction at an estimated cost of £60.000 of a road down the Hollyford Valley to the site of a proposed landing ground at Lake McKerrow. This . would enable tourists landing at Milford to travel by motor-car to the landing ground and then fly to Westland. This road would also form part of the through direct road from Haast to Milford. Estimated Oost of £600,000 The estimated cost of the WehekaBruce Bay section of the Main South Road, continued the Minister, was approximately £IOO,OOO. His department! already had 120 men employed on that section, on which work was now well in hand. Suspension bridges were being erected over the Fox and Cook Rivers. The estimate for road construction and bridging between Bruce Bay and the Haast was £270,000 and plans were being prepared for a bridge over the Karangarua River. For the Haast Pass Road from the site of the proposed new bridge to Makarora the estimate was £230,000. The total estimated cost of the through road from Weheka to Makarora was therefore £600.000, including the work recently done on the ehekaBruce Bay section. Fifty additional men were to be placed on the Main South Road and arrangements had been made for immediate commencement at the Makarora end of the Haast Pass Road with 150 men.