HIKURANGI CROSSING SAFE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17230, 9 April 1930, Page 7

HIKURANGI CROSSING SAFE

DEPARTMENT'S VIEW "The crossings in the locality where the recent .tragedy at Hikurangi occurred have never been considered especially dangerous in comparison with others,''' declares the Railway Department. "It is considered that the visibility is satisfactory and that if due precautions arc taken 'by drivers there should b > difficulty in safely negotiating the crossings. "The matter of their elimination came mule]- discussion in 1924, when it was suggested that the Main North road should be diverted al this point to eliminate two crossings. The section of road involved was, at that time, in a bad state of repair, ami the cost of carrying out a deviation proposal would not be much greater than that needed for re-forming the then existing road. The approximate estimate of cost to do this work in 1024 was £2500, and the matter was discussed by the Whangarei County Council. This council considered thai there was nothing in the position of these level crossings to warrant a heavy outlay in the near future.

"The idea of arranging this deviation was revived in HlL'll, when the matter was discussed with the Main Highways Board. It was then considered ' that the crossings were not especially dangerous in comparison with many others."