IMPROVED ROADS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22877, 4 November 1937, Page 12

IMPROVED ROADS

NORTHERN DISTRICTS MUCH NEW WORK IN HAND PREPARATIONS FOR HOLIDAYS SAFER AND BETTER TRAVEL Motorists touring the North Auckland districts this summer should be pleasantly surprised at the improvements which are being effected on the northern highway to Whangarei and Dargaville, according to Mr. F. G. Farroll, president of the Automobile Association (Auckland), who is at present making a week's tour of the northern area, with Mr. G. W. Hutchison, secretary, and Mr. R. E. Champtaloup, touring manager. "It is gratifying to find that the association's claim that nothing but the best of highway construction would meet the requirements of the North is meeting with a favourable response from the Main Highways Board," said Mr. Farrell. "Work is in hand in many places to provide safer and better reading conditions, and we have noted several points where representations will be made to the Main Highways Board for the removal of dangerous sections." Eliminating Dangers Dangerous bends and steep grades are being replaced by modern, easygraded highways on the Waiwera and Puhoi Hills, and it is anticipated that the new deviations will be available for Christmas traffic. A contract is to be let for an extra section of five miles of tar-sealing, which will provide a permanently surfaced road from Topuni, through Wellsford and Warkworth South, to Silverdale. Work in connection with the elimination of the flood area near the Hoteo River bridge on the Dome Valley route between Warkworth and Wellsford is in an advanced stage. It should not be long before the raised highway is opened for use. Extensive reconstruction schemes between Topuni, Kaiwaka, Maungaturoto and Waipu are also features which impressed the association officials. From the end of the tar-sealing at the Topuni Bridge, a few miles north of Wellsford, an entirely new road is being constructed, eliminating a narrow subway, a one-car overhead bridge and a long winding road. Road Shorter by Seven Miles

Beyond Kaiwaka a direct route to Waipu is nearing completion. It will probably bo available for traffic next winter. The road will shorten the distance to Whangarei by seven miles, obviating the need for going through the Waipu Gorge. Dargaville traffic will also benefit by this road, which will be connected with Muungaturoto by a section of good level highway, dispensing with the present hilly route. Further improvements which have been authorised on the WaipuWhangarei (section will include several full-width bridges to replace old narrow wooden structures and additional reconstruction before improved tarsealing is started. Tlio improved maintenance of the running surface, on the Maungaturoto-Dargaville route was also favourably commented upon by the association officials, who intend to inspect roads as far north as Kaitaia during their tour.