JUNCTION ROAD DEVIATION.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 November 1934, Page 3

JUNCTION ROAD DEVIATION.

ACCESS TO OAKURA BEACH; The proposed deviation near Egmont Village on the Junction Road and the necessity for improved access to Oakura beach were two of the main points brought before the board at New Plymouth. Mr. S. Vickers, after issuing an official welcome, detailed a list the Taranaki county had complied. The lower Mangorei Road, just over two miles long, ■ was Fitzroy’s direct access south, he said. The borough had sealed its section but the county’s length was little more than a • one-car road for width of metal. Maintenance costs were now £220 a year, but if the road were sealed those costs would be reduced to £55. It was asked that the road be declared a secondary highway. There was also the proposed deviation on the Junction Road at the Waiwakaiho bridge near Egmont Village, where it was hoped to eliminate blind corners and a sharp bend before proceeding with the council’s remodelling programme over the last length of Junction Road to the boundary. Deviation work was also asked for at Oakura. Mr. McKenzie: We shall be inspecting both these places to-morrow. Mr. Vickers also pointed out that the mam roads would need sealing again shortly. To that kind of work, said Mr. McKenzie, the board was entirely sympathetic. The bad state of lower Wairau Road to the Oakura beach was emphasised by. Mr. D. le C. Morgan, secretary of the North Taranaki provincial executive of the Farmers’ Union. The road was unmetalled for part of its length and the dust nuisance in the summertime made it impossible for cars to proceed till the clouds had cleared away. Most of- the traffic to the beach—there had been 100 cars there last week-end—was from out- • side the district, and much benzine tax revenue was obtained by the board as the result of the beach traffic. Mr. C. J. Harris said it was impossible to walk to the beach when motor traffic was passing, so thick was the dust. There were only two settlers on the road and little in rates was therefore available. The lower Wairau Road was probably carrying more traffic than any other North Taranaki side road. ’ Messrs. W. T. Guild and Hugh Baily, on behalf of the Automobile Association, supported the request. Mr. Guild also stressed the importance of opening the Okau-Ohura road. Mr. W. C. Weston, president of the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce, referred to that body’s special appeal for “ the metalling of the Purangi-Matau road, and stated the» Wairau Road metalling was not a county council matter. Mr. V. Duff referred to the proposed work at the Junction Road bridge and stressed the present danger to modern motor traffic of the “blind spot” that existed. Mr. McKenzie pointed out that the Okau-Ohura and Matau-Purangi projects were both Public Works Department matters, and a fair amount of money had been spent on them. The board intended to investigate projects at the Urenui-Okoke' junction, as well as the chain bridge and Oakura. Mr. Wynyard, the motorists’ representative on the board, suggested ways in which motorists could be assisted. The deviation proposal at the chain bridge had much to recommend it, and councils were also requested to paint bridge strictures white. White centre lines on curves and hills were also a great help. Mr. Wynyard also suggested the painting of railway crossing warning signs on roads some distance from the crossings. The board was considering special provision for sealing portions of macadam roads near railways for that special purpose. Such work would carry. a special subsidy of £3 for £l. Mr. Morrison referred to the standard of Taranaki roads compared with those of other districts. Roads were deterior- \ ating in many places, but he was glad to know that was not the case so much ■ in Taranaki, he said.