ROAD CONDITIONS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 608, 9 March 1929, Page 16

ROAD CONDITIONS

A.A.A’S REPORT The- Auckland Automobile Association issues the following road report, giving conditions of roads on Thursday afternoon: The continuation of fine weather has enabled the Main Highways Board and local bodies to do effective work, and where rough clay conditions caused uncomfortable travelling, especially in the Christinas holidays, most of these surfaces have now been graded or ground down. However, it is still necessary on many routes to take detours temporarily, pending the completion of the highway, and although a certain amount of inconvenience is being caused through the diversion of traffic on the side detours, by this coming winter many miles of all-weather roads will have been completed.

Chains will be required on the following routes in the event of wet weather: Auckland and Whangarei, via East and West Coasts; Waihi to Tauranga; Te Kuiti to Taumarunui: Whangahui to Raetihi; Tokaanu to Waiouru; Pio Fio, Ohura, Stratford.

North Auckland.—Light rain has fallen throughout the North, making- chains necessary on most of the clay roads, but after several hours’ sunshine and drying wind, road surfaces will again become passable without the help of chains. Auckland-Helensville. The Lincoln Road is still under reconstruction, and will be closed to traffic this week-end, it being necessary for traffic to take the better route via Swanson and Waitakere. Whangarei-Dargavillc.—A verv fair all-metal road is to be found, and from WTiangarei to Kawakawa there is now an excellent surface, and the only portion likely to cause trouble after rain is that at Waiotu, and it is understood this portion will be metalled for the winter.

Te Kuiti-Taumarunui.—The surface is rough on this highway and many detours are necessary, and should wet weather be experienced chains will be required, as new reconstruction work will make it hard going. By Easter this road will be greatly improved, with many devia.tions opened. Ohura.—With fine weather all the roads are passable.

Arapuni.—Tar-sealing is in progress at present between the Horo Horo turnoff and the waterfall on the Putaruru and Arapuni road. Good progress is being made with this work, and also the rounding off of all bad corners. Rotorua.—All roads are in good order and no difficulty will be encountered on the Rotorua-Taupo route or TauppAtiamuri.

Pokeno, Paeroa, Te Aroha, Matamata. —An all-weather surface is provided and the road is in good order. Reconstruction and metalling at Marumarua, but this section will be completed within Lhe next few days.

Taupo-Napier.—This surface is in good order, being of a sandy nature, and provides comfortable travelling in all weather. .

Napier, Gisborne, Opotiki. From Napier to Gisborne the surface is in good order, and no trouble will be experienced between Gisborne and Opotiki. The unmetalled section is rough and chains will be required in the event of wet weather setting in, especially between Motuhora and Puha.