DUKE’S ROAD HIGHWAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23436, 26 February 1938, Page 7

DUKE’S ROAD HIGHWAY

NEW APPROACH TO CITY COUNTY COUNCIL APPROVES FINANCE At its meeting yesterday, the Taieri County Council decided to afccept the allocation of £1425 as its contribution to the cost of the Dunedin-Duke’s road main highway although this amount was practically double that to which the council originally agreed Councillors remarked that there was some opposition to the new road, but they adopted the attitude that the improvements were bound to be made in time and the council could hardly expect a better offer than the present one.

The Main Highways Board representative (Mr P. Keller) forwarded a letter to the meeting, stating that the estimated cost of the work was £30,000. The tentative estimate, based on a walk over survey, was £12,000, the work visualised being but the reshaping of the road on its present alignment and width, adding gravel and applying a seal coat, Later, a detailed engineer’s survey was made proyiding for realignment and widening, and for the removal of 47,000 c. yards of clay and rock, the renewal of several culverts, 14,000 c. yards of gravel and a two-coat seal Unskilled labour was estimated at 2800 man weeks, on which the Labour Department had offered a subsidy of 45s per man week, aggregating £6300. The Main Highways Board would contribute £IB,OOO and the local authorities £5700. the council’s portion being £1425 It was stated that the council was spending £6OO per annum on the maintenance of the present road, so that the amount asked would be practically paid off in two years, with the advantage that the council would then have a first-class new road at the cost of its future maintenance.

On the motion of Cr Findlay, seconded by Cr Withers, it was decided to accept the board’s offer.