NEW ENTRANCE TO CITY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23321, 13 October 1937, Page 7

NEW ENTRANCE TO CITY

LEITH VALLEY ROAD IMPROVED DRIVING CONDITIONS EXPECTED It is expected that work on the new arterial route into Dunedin through the Leith Valley will be begun within the next few weeks, by which time it is probable that there will be 100 men engaged on the preliminary work from the Waitati end. The survey is not yet completed, so that final details of the saving in distance, grade and alignment are not yet available. However, it is considered that the new road will provide a more imposing entrance to the city and that the definite improvement in driving conditions will more than compensate for whatever slight loss there might be scenically. It will be of easy alignment, there being no curves sharper than a radius of eight chains and no grades steeper than one in 12. Generally, the route will follow the present Leith Valley road for about one mile in from Waitati, branching off to cross the Waitati Stream just below the two fords and following the line of the valley up to Pigeon Flat to rejoin the present road at the summit. It is estimated that the distance saved compared with the present road over Mount Cargill will be nearly three-quarters of a mile, and since the new route will be mainly along sunny faces, there is expected to be less danger from snow and ice It is hoped, too, that the fog danger will be appreciably minimised. A sealing width of 22ft and a formation width of 30ft are being aimed at.