BETTER HIGHWAYS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22892, 22 November 1937, Page 6

BETTER HIGHWAYS

CHKISTMAS TRAFFIC

WORK IN WAIKATO DISTRICT HAMILTON TO TE AWAMUTU THE MAMAKU HILLS ROUTE [from our own correspondent] HAMILTON, Saturday In preparation for the influx of holiday motor traffic, which is always heavy in the Waikato district, the Public Works Department at Hamilton has several large gangs of men at work effecting considerable improvements to main highways in various areas. A special effort is being made by the department to hhve all sealed and unsealed surfaces in good order by Christmas. With the exception of a small length near the Mangapiko bridge, a quarter of a mile north of To Awamutu, the construction of the main highway between Hamilton and Te Awamutu, 18 miles long, is finished. Tlio construction of the Mangapiko bridgo should be completed in January. As soon as the portion of the road in the vicinity of the bridge is sealed it will mark the completion of tho reconstruction and sealing of the 35 miles of tho Great South Road between Ngaruawahia and the Otorohanga County, all in the Waipa County, which was commenced three years ago next January. A Dustless Surface Tho bulk of the new construction work on State highways in the Waikato is now centred between Cambridge and the top of the Mamaku Hills, over a distance of about -10 miles. It is expected to have the 15-mile length from the Karapiro dairy factory to Tirau sealed as far as tho Horahora turn-off this summer. The other stretch lies between the foot of tho Mamaku Hills and • the top, a distance of 14 miles, and is now well advanced, nine miles being primed, with tar and two and a-half miles being finally sealed. It is hoped to have a dustless surface over the entire highway before Christmas. More Overhead Bridges

The department is also carrying out a large number of highway improvements from Putaruru to the Eotorua county boundary. Overhead bridges at Ohinewai, 'J aupiri and Hopuhopu are now well under construction. Tho Railway Department is making excellent progress with the construction of the sub-way and overhead bridge at Tirau and as soon as these are completed it will enable the Public Works Department to complete the excavations and allow traffic to proceed, thus eliminating two particularly dangerous crossings.