MAIN HIGHWAYS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26791, 7 June 1948, Page 4

MAIN HIGHWAYS

OUTLETS FROM CITIES NEEDS FOR THE FUTURE p.A. WELLINGTON, June s New Zealand’s future motorways are being planned so that the necessary land may be acquired before it is too late, stated the Minister of Works, Mr Semple, when describing the progress made in bringing the last session's legislation into operation. The Minister said he does not want to leave things until the required land for improved highways has been developed and built out, as happened in some cases where by-pass roads were provided to relieve congested areas. “It has become apparent,” said the Minister, “that the capacities of existing main routes adjacent to the cities are already being overtaxed, thus leading to economic loss in transportation costs and, of even greater importance, the accident potential on these roads is rising at an alarming rate.” There is no intention, explained Mr Semple, to build a motor highway from Wellington to Auckland. Works of a higher priority, such as housing and hydro-electric development, prevent construction going ahead as the Minister would like, but the construction has started of limited access roads from Auckland to by-pass, Penrose, and north of Wellington, from Johnsonville to Porirua. The increasing traffic of the future will necessitate motor roads from Auckland north-west to Whenuapai, between Wellington and Levin, and Napier to Hastings. The land for these routes is being purchased as surveys are made. “As far as the South Island is concerned,” concluded the Minister, “the cities themselves are not generally so far advanced with their town planning schemes and for this reason the location of motor highways can only be approximately established in the meantime. However, an investigation is being commenced on the northern and southern outlets from Christchurch, the outlets from Dunedin, and for a few miles to the north from Invercargill, while consideration will be given to any other route where the traffic volume may justify a motorway.”