EAST COAST HIGHWAY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19885, 11 March 1939, Page 4

EAST COAST HIGHWAY

BRIDGE NEARLY READY ROUTE GREATLY IMPROVED Only two spans remain to 'be completed on the 'big Raukokore River bridge on the Opotiki-Gisborne coastal scenic highway. It is expected that the work will be finished by the beginning of April, so that the main obstacle to the use of this route by tourists should be removed in time for the Easter holiday traffic. The bridge has been under construction for two years. The work was held up several times while the contractor repaired the Kereu bridge, which suffered from heavy floods. The contractor also had to salvage building gear Which was washed away by the floods last year. The recent fine weather has enabled the work to be pushed ahead at a good rate. The completion of the bridge will bt a great boon to coast settlers and suppliers to the Te Kaha dairy factory at the Cape Runaway end of the road, who at times have lost heavily as a result of hold-ups an the cartage )i cream.

The only bridge of any importance now to be completed is at Cape Runaway, tout this stream does not cause any delays except in times of flood. Numerous small bridges are 'being built and a fine road will be available for all traffic toy the end of the year. The coast highway is in very good condition at present and travellers speak, appreciatively of the good work toeing done in widening and straightening by the Public Works Department.