WHERE TRAVEL IS SAFE

Taranaki Daily News, 25 February 1935, Page 9

WHERE TRAVEL IS SAFE

SURVEY OF CHIEF ROADS MOST ROUTES NOW NEGOTIABLE. SOME WEAKNESSES TO AVOID. DETOURS NEEDED IN PLACES. Restoration of road and rail communication presented the most serious difficulty immediately after the flood. Gangs worked at high pressure all through the week-end, and yesterday on essential routes a degree of order had been restored. Railway information is available in another column. Main routes by road are now open, although there is difficulty to be encountered south of Hawera and a slight risk on the north road at the Waitara bridge. To Hawera Mountain Road is clear though scoured in places. Traffic travelling between New Plymouth and Inglewood will be diverted through Egmont Road as Kent Road is damaged, and that to Waitara will make use of Mountain, Manutahi and Richmond Roads. Travelling to Inglewood from Waitara motorists will drive via Richmond and Manutahi Roads. The main south Road is on the whole fairly safe for light traffic. The stream on the southern side of Ahu Ahu Road needs to be negotiated with care and is definitely prohibited to heavy vehicles. Omata Road between Westown and Blagdon Roads, Okahu Road from Stony River to the intersection of Saunders Road and Carrington Road from Momona stream to Saunders Road are also closed. INGLEWOOD DIFFICULTIES. The Inglewood County Council warns motorists and those in charge of very light traffic that they may proceed at their own risk to Tariki, thence along Surrey, Derby and York Roads to join the main highway between Waipuku and Midhirst. Other traffic is prohibited. On information supplied by the Hawera County engineer, who yesterday made a complete inspection of all roads under his jurisdiction, the Main South Road to Mbkoia is closed by the washaway of the Tangahoe bridge and all traffic must travel by a deviation through Tawhiti and Ohangai. The Hawera County Council has under consideration the provision of an underslung strut bridge but it will be some weeks before the work is done. The deviation is clearly marked by signposts at Hawera and motorists should experience no difficulty in following the route. The bridge at Ohangai and the road adjacent are safe, having been cleared by workmen. The Tangahoe Valley Road beyond Ararata is closed by a bridge that has been washed down, but settlers can communicate with other centres via Meremere. Repairs will be effected as soon as possible. The Ararata bridge, though twisted and otherwise damaged, is passable for cars. Repairs will be effected soon. The Noonan Road is clear but care must be taken crossing the bridge. On the Ngawhine Gorge alternative route to Ararata the bridge is down and will be replaced, although the work is not urgent. A first report has been received that the bridge on the Ingahape-Whakamara Road has had its back broken by the ■weight of debris and the road is not passable. The Wanganui-Pipiriki Road Is blacked and the Wanganui-Karioi Road is blocked. The Taupo-National Park Road, is impassable and on none of these is information available as to when the routes will be open,/'