NEW HIGHWAY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23060, 10 June 1938, Page 14

NEW HIGHWAY

NGAHAURANGA GORGE

P 11 111 TUNNEL OF 550 FT. REQUIRED

USE; OF OLD MAIN TRUNK LINE

[BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION 1 ] WELLINGTON, Thursday

Road construction involving „ the building of a main highway deviation through the Ngahauranga Gorge, and the use of the old Main Trunk railray •line from Johnsonville to a point south of Porirua as* a new- highway, - has been approved by the Cabinet, according to an ■ announcement by - the Minister- of Publio Works, the Hon. R. Semple, today. The re-alignment of the Ngahauranga Gorge road will involve driving at least one tunnel over 550 ft. long, and will shorten the present road by half a mile, cutting out many of the sharp bends and steep gradients. Mr. Semple mentions the rapid growth of traffic year by year, and substantial developments are anticipated in suburban expansion toward T awa Flat*. "• i... v The new road through tho gorge will generally follow a direct lino ; through the Spurs and along or over the and its construction tyill necessitate the closing of the present road, so that for the time access to Wellington will be through Khandallah or from Pahautanui to Lower Hutt. Any temporary inconveriience will be minimised, however, by expediting the work on the gorge r° a d. ; . . This'road, it is. intended, , will ultimately provide for four lanes of traffic. The road from Johnsonville to Porirua is such that the safe flow of traffic is ■seriously hampered. The Main Highways Board has included this section in its report, and its suggestion that the old Main Trunk railway line be adapted for highway traffic has been approved. These works will afford employment for a large number of men for a considerable period.