MAIN SOUTH ISLAND HIGHWAY

Southland Times, Issue 24237, 21 September 1940, Page 4

MAIN SOUTH ISLAND HIGHWAY

TAR-SEALING PRACTICALLY COMPLETED

The work of converting the main road from Picton to Bluff into a firstclass highway proceeds steadily, and the southern section between Dunedin and Bluff is now practically completed. The work involved has meant the elimination, of dangerous bends, erection of good bridges, including overbridges at railway crossings, and tarsealing. South of Dunedin the latter process is completed as far as Clinton, where there is a stop due to the reconstruction which has been taking place over a period of many months. Gangs working from the Clinton and from the Waipalii end have, now almost met, and so ffie reconstruction is in its final stages. Sealing materials are ready to be used as soon as consolidation is complete. There is quite a big detour of two miles, which cuts out Waipahi, involved in this reconstruction (says The Evening Star). The surface is in very good order. This detour saves two overbridges, and is flood-proof, a very big advantage in this part of the highway, so often subject to flooding in the past. The road from Invercargill is sealed to four miles on the Dunedin side of Arthurton, so the unsealed reconstructed area is very short. With the exception of that short strip, which should soon he completed now, the whole of the main road from Invercargill to Glenmark, about 40 miles north of Christchurch, has been sealed, properly bridged, and all bad bends eliminated. There is, therefore, more than 400 miles of first-class highway in the South Island, and when the work in North Canterbury and Marlborough is ended the main highway should be one of the finest routes in the Dominion.

Travellers using the main south road speak very highly of its general condition, stressing that the improved surfaces and more direct course have resulted in the saving of considerable time, quite apart from any considerations of increased safety.