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IMPROVING RAIL CROSSING

VISIBILi IY AT NORMANBY

REMOVAL OF HEDGE AND BANK. SUBWAY PROPOSAL TOO COSTLY. ’ Visibility at the* Normanby main road railway crossing is being much improved but the provision of a subway on the southern side is not to be anticipated. The general opinion 6f interested parties who Viewed the spot yesterday was that the improvements „under way would make the crossing safer than a good many others. The hedge on the northern • approach is being taken > out- and r the -bank is being sloped, as is that , on' the other side of the line. When- the work ,is sompleted trains from New Plymouth will be Easily Visible frotti about a. chain on the south and half a chain on the north of the crossing. At these points trains can be seen half a mile. away.

Yesterday representatives of the Hawera Chamber of Commerce, the North Island Motor Union, the South Taranaki Automibile Association, the Normanby Dairy Company, the Normanby Town Board and the Hawera County Council met at the crossing. The Railway Department was represented by Mr. H. G. Stevens, Wanganui.

The subway proposal was Soon disposed of on the score of cost. 'lt was suggested that relief labour might be used but Mr. Stevens pointed out that this was impracticable except -for the earthwork. The overhead bridge alone would cost , about £l5OO so they could see there Was little chance of the department’s undertaking the work. The department did not consider the Normanby crossing one of the Worst in the district. In his opinion the work being done by the town board would make a great improvement. He showed that trains Would be in Sight before they came around the bend just north of the crossing. “FAULTY CONSTRUCTION.”

Attention was then directed to the main road . itself. Mr. Stevens did not consider straightening of the road would be Of any advantage as it would only increase speeds across the crossing. The construction of the road as it turned on the south side .was faulty in that the super-elevation had been gained by dropping the inside of the curve Instead of raising the outside. It would improve visibility if the road were raised two feet. Mr. C. J. Preston said the Normanby ToWn Board was hot prepared to raise the road as suggested. Mr| Preston demonstrated that trains from the north could be seen from about a chain on each side of the Crossing. The steps being taken by the board would ffiean a big improvement. He did not consider the crossing a Very dangerous one as there had been only two accidents in the past 20 years. Cutting off the right-hand comer oft the south side Was also discussed. It seemed generally the belief that though this would improve the road it Would not to any great extent improve the crossing. Mr. Stevens said the department would have no objection at all to the comer being-sliced. Mr. E. Dixon, chairman of the chamber railway , committee, said he did, not think the chamber would press the matter further. The Work in hand would apparently make the crossing safe enough. Compared with that at some other crossings the visibility would be good. . Mr. Stevens said the last accident had been caused by a conjunction of circumstances which would probably not occur again in 20 years. ~ Mr. E. K. Cameron pointed out that the presence of a train in the Normanby station when the afternoon south-bound passenger train was coming in was an everyday occurrence. To those Who did not know the crossing this gave a false sense of security. i This observation prompted the suggestion of a wig-wag. Mr. Stevens said this too would cost money. If motorists watched the signals they could see .if trains were to be expected. > } . Appreciation was expressed of the work in hand and of the action of Mr. R. Anstis in giving his consent to part of it being done on his property. The labour is under the relief scheme and the department is finding the material for the new fence.

Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TDN19330329.2.121

Bibliographic details

Taranaki Daily News, 29 March 1933, Page 9

Word Count
679

IMPROVING RAIL CROSSING Taranaki Daily News, 29 March 1933, Page 9

IMPROVING RAIL CROSSING Taranaki Daily News, 29 March 1933, Page 9

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