HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENT

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18855, 5 November 1935, Page 2

HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENT

ROUTE THROUGH WAIKATO

MANY CONTRACTS IN HAND

LARGE EXPENDITURE

The condition of the 35-mile stretch of main highway between Ngnruawa'hm and. the Oto. manga County, near the River, is being rapidly improved by contractors working under the supervision of engineers of the Public. Works Department. Work on the stretch of 13 miles between Ngaruawaiua and Hamilton is nearly completed. The road has been straightened, new culverts have been constructed and the purfaco tar-sealed. The last and a most important piece oi: work along the stretch has been the removal of"a.series of sharp elbow's at Horo'tiu by tjhe .construction of a -traight deviation. The work removes •ho scene of several serious ffceidents, one of which was fatal. Contracts have been let for straightening and resurfacing a 10-mile stretch between Hamilton and Ohaupo. The work is now well under way. Culverts are being rebuilt or strengthened by ;he Public .Works Department and a considerable area, of land has been taken over at many points to enable deviations to be made. A*. Mystery Creek a tunnel 120 ft. in length was pierced, ft is required for the accommodation of a culvert 9ft. Gin. by Bft. Expert tunnellcrs are employed on this tvpe of work. ' Nothing has been done to the 'highway between Ohauno and To Awamutu, but" contracts for this stretch aro to be lot snortk. A big contract involving the removal of 60,000 cubic, yardsof spoil is in progress neaT Kihihiki, where a deviation 2£ miles in length, cutting out several sharp bends, is being made. Pile-driving in the initial stages of the new Puniivbridge i* also in progress. The road between Hamilton and Ohaupo, which is in course of Tocon-,<-truction, is very rougli and requires care in negotiating. The Government has spent £35,000 on the first section, and is committed to the expenditure of £55,000 on the second section. The new work throughout has been designed to provide for horizontal curvatures with a 10-chain radius, and w"ith voi-tiMtil 500 ft. sight distances. There are about 100 men directly employed on the Ngauruawhra-Puniu road, and many more are engaged in supplying materials and transport.