WAIOEKA ROAD

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17437, 8 April 1931, Page 11

WAIOEKA ROAD

IMPORTANT NEW HIGHWAY The Waioeka. road was opened for i traffic during the Easter holidays and a > number of local motorists availed themselves of the opportunity to go over the new route to Opotiki. Several went through on Friday, but unfortunately l rain set in on Saturday afternoon and t brought down a number of slips. These > were cleared away during the week-end > to permit of the Public Works Depart- :< meat’s lorry passing through first tiling : yesterday morning carrying stores to the workmen. A Gisborne motorist passed over the road just before midday yesterday, and was fortunate in finding an open road before the men resumed work after the holidays. Tho new highway, which should be available for traffic next summer, will be of considerable benefit in opening up communication between Gisborne and the Bay of Plenty district. The road follows up the course of the Waioeka River and a subsequent, stream to the watershed. The grade throughout is excellent, the only real climb being over the watershed on to tho Matawai side of the dividing range. Following up the course of the river, the road presents many picturesque spots and ideal camping grounds. A considerable area lias been denuded of bush during the past 10 years, but there is still much bush remaining which adds considerably to the scenic attraction of the new route. Y\ idening operations are in progress on several section*, and workmen’s camps are scattered along the road for some

miles. At several points there is just sufficient room for a, car to pass over, but the work of widening the road should bo completed this winter. There are several 1 open crossings, but these presented no difficulty yesterday. The largest crossing is that over the Motu River at Mr. Fred. Hutchinson’s, at the junction, of the Matawai road. The bridge, at this point lias been erected, but the approaches have not been completed. Contracts have- been let for the construction of two of the remaining structures. The road is fairly narrow in places, and . will require careful driving, but eliminating the big climbs on the present road, via. loatoa, the new Waioeka route is destined to become a popular thoroughfare. It will greatly eliminate tho strain of the present overland journey across tins mountains, and is hound to bring about a. better community of interest between Gisborne and its northern neighbors in the Bay of Plenty.