WAITOA-TAUPO ROAD

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22864, 20 October 1937, Page 17

WAITOA-TAUPO ROAD

RECONSTRUCTION PROPOSAL COUNCIL DECLINES TO ASSIST [bt telegraph—OWN correspondent] MATAMATA, Tuesday The Matamata County Council has declined to contribute £4299 as its share of the cost of the reconstruction of the Waitoa-Taupo main highway from Lichfield southward, as requested by the Public Works Department. The clerk was directed to advise the department that it should take over the road as a State highway, and that all future costs of reconstruction and maintenance should ho covered by the department with revenue derived from petrol taxation.

In the course of a letter to the council, the department stated: "The scheme does not include a railway overhead bridge at the level crossing just south of Putaruru, which is in contemplation, but commences from a point five chains south of that crossing. Many lengths are to he realigned, and there is a deviation whereby the highway will follow the old route against the laupo Totara Timber Company's tramline from Putaruru nurseries to Small's Corner—a length of about 106 chains. 'I lie present bitumen road here will therefore remain open as a county road. "The whole road is to be surfaced with bitumen to a width of 18ft., with 3ft. shouders. The scheme includes new bridges at. Ngutuwera, Pakaiwhenua and Matarawa streams. The council is asked to contribute its norma] share toward sealing those lengths not already sealed, and two new bridges, this being considered as costs which the council would have met in course of time, but relieving the council entirely of all costs of aligning the road up to modern requirements and strengthening it to carry future traffic '