SOUTH ROAD PLAN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23355, 25 May 1939, Page 10

SOUTH ROAD PLAN

WIDENING APPROVED; •' 80FT. MAIN HIGHWAY CENTRAL fiIVISION SCHEME ' CYCLE-TRACK IXCiXDED A plan for widening the Great South ' Road, from the tram terminus at On/ - Tree Hill as far as Papakura, f roin 66ft. to 80ft.. has bc-cn approved i n general terms by the Main Highway Board. The work, of which details hare yet to be decided, is expected to occup v between three and four years, and in volves major alterations and improve, ments.

The widening scheme will not apply to tho townships on the route. Els£ where, however, it is proposed to widen the road by 7ft. on either side. The work will be financed by the Main Highways Board. The present proposals are to build a central division, probably in the form of a low wall or parapet, the length of the widened section, with frequent breaks to enable traffic to turn to the right into side streets. On either side of the road it is planned to have a footpath -oft. wide, then a grass verge about 4ft. wide, with a 6ft. cycle-traciN-outside it. Next will come the concrete highway, two strips each 23ft. Gin. wide, divided by the built-up centre. Since it would be almost impossible to carry out the same widening in all the townships through which the road passes without interfering with buildings, the board proposes to invite the local bodies concerned to prohibit the parking of motor-cars on the Great South'Roacl in their respective areas. In this way'it is hoped to reduce congestion. "

Improvements to the lighting system are also envisaged. At 90ft. intervals along the grass Verges on either side of the road it is proposed to erect standards, and to have swung between them, directly over the centre of the road, sodium-type lamps. The central division of the road br means of some form of constructed barrier is..designed to j>revenfc head-on collisions. The exact form of the, division, however, with numerous other details, hps yet to he decided.