MAIN HIGHWAYS BOARD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20705, 1 May 1929, Page 8

MAIN HIGHWAYS BOARD.

ROADS IN WAIKOUAm COUNTY.

(Pkb United Pbkss Association.)

' , WELLINGTON.' April 30. , . The Mam Highways Board held! a meefci mg at Wellington last week. Mr: F. W. Furkert presided. . ; The board approved of the Jiaytuent of ' a subsidy towards t the .cost of Erection of a new bridge over the Avon River at New, Brighton.. . Thfe local authorities pro* pose constructing a bridge 63 feet wide. As such a wide structure is not necessary from a highway, point of view, but is to meet local traffic requirements, the board’s subsidy will be limited' to the tost of erecting a bridge half this width. ' On the Christchurch-Governor’s Bay road thd board agreed to subsidise the cost of completing construction on the basis of £3 for £l.

The board approved a.substantial sum for expenditure in restoring earthquake damage done on the highway between Arthur a Pass' and Otira during the recent heavy earthquake, which occurred in that locality. ■ In ■ connection with the paving of main highways radiating from the larger centres of population, the board, having falcon traffic tallies on the highway from Panmure to Howick, has decided to approve the construction of a concrete pavement on this highway, and it. is undetv stood that the Manukau County' Council is now taking steps to place the proposition before the ratepayers, with a- view to borrowing their proportion of the cost. -

In regard to improving the visibility, and the provision of warning devices, at railway level crossings, the board decided, ,in addition to the amounts which-;it is making .available for the total elimination of certain crossings, to provide funds for improvements at those crossings which cannot be entirely eliminated, and negotiations are now being entered , into with the Railways Department with regard to this matter.

In connection with the improvement 6£ the. Dunedin-Christchurch main highway, the board' is having a survey carried out between Shag Point and the Shag River bridge; ■ . Some time ago the board decided to open up negotiations with local' bodies in the South Island for paving the fno.ro heavily-trafficked flections of the main highway between Picton and the Bluff. In consequence of these negotiations tlfs following schemes were dealt with and approved by the board :—Sealing the main highway between Waipara River and Hurunui River, in the Waipara County, a distance _ of ..approximately 25 .miles; reconstruction and surfacing of the Main North road between Woodend and the Ashley River, a distance of about. Jour miles, in the Rangiora County; also paling of the main highway between Rang!ora and W -odend, a distance .of approximately. four miles; paving the whole of the Dunedin-Christchurch rniin highway within the Ashburton County, a'distance of 27 miles; sealing an additional eight miles in the Geraldine County. This will complete the surfacing of the whole' of the Dunedin-Christchurch ; main highway in this county. - Further, .south the Waimate Coiinty Council, which has already let a contract for paving between the Pareora River bridge and Waimate, h as extended its scheme to include the main highway from Waimate to Waitaki bridge, a distance of 10 miles. The total expenditure involved in .the whole of the above scheme approaches £260,000. In the case of the Kaiapoi Borough,' which proposes to reconstruct the Main road at the same time as paving, schemes arc proceeding in the adjoining counties, the board has decided, in view of the special circumstances in this particular case, to subsidise the cost of the work on the basis of £3 for £l.

On the reconstruction of the main highway north of Waitati, the board has now arrived at. a basis of contribution With' the Waikouaiti County Council with regard to the first seven, miles and a-half, and the work will be commenced- during the present, year,