HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENTS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 672, 25 May 1929, Page 6

HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENTS

STRAIGHTENING DRURY CORNER BOARD’S DECISIONS Press Association, WELLINGTON, Friday. | Proposals for the reconstruction of the main highway between I Auckland and Hamilton were be- i fore the monthly meeting of the Main Highways Board. Details of the Franklin County Council’s proposals were also before the board. At the same time the board considered the question of deviating the main highway at Drury township. Some time ago members of the board inspected the proposed deviation, which, while giving a straight alignment, would practically eliminate the township from the main road. Plans covering the straight route, and also an alternative to improve the alignment of the present road by a deviation at the south end of the township, were prepared by the Franklin County Council, which recommended the adoption of the latter. The boaird decided to accept the recommendation of the Franklin County Council. In connection with the reconstruction. of the Rangitikei River Bridge at Bulls, a proposal had been submitted for the construction /if a new bridge some distance down stream from the present one. After inspection and consideration of reports by the Public Works Department’s engineers, the hoard has decided that the site of the new bridge shall be. just above the present bridge. The board decided to adhere to the previous subsidy of £3 for £l. On the occasion of its recent visit to the King Country representations were made to the board that it should proceed with the reconstruction and metalling of the main highway between Pipiriki and Raetihi. The metalling of this road Would provide an all-the-year-round access to the Main Trunk from Pipiriki, thereby enabling tourists leaving the Wanganui River service at Pipiriki to join the Main Trunk express at Raetihi. In view, however, of the fact that the board is spending substantial sums in connection with other roads joining up with the Wanganui River service, it is not in a position to provide for expenditure between Pipiriki and Raetihi at the present time. During April three important metalling works were completed, find all were on important highways. Firstly, an “all weather” route has’ been provided between Auckland and Waiwera, which forms part of the connection between Auckland and Whangarei and the Far North; secondly, a metalled connection between Gisborne and Motu was established; and thirdly, Wanganui was linked with Raetihi by the completion of the metalling of what is known as the Parapara Road. In the latter case something of a record was established, in that 11- miles were metalled in a period of eight weeks.