Motorists Raise Complaint About State Of Main Road.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18940, 10 December 1929, Page 11

Motorists Raise Complaint About State Of Main Road.

LOCAL BODIES HAVE NEGLECTED RESPONSIBILITIES, IT IS STATED.

BETWEEN MAY’S ROAD and St Bede’s College there is a portion of the Papanui and Main North Roads which, on account of its shocking state of disrepair, is little short of a menace. It comprises a far from flattering commentary on the inertia of the Christchurch City Council and the Waimairi County Council, which are the local bodies responsible for its upkeep. That one of the main arteries of commercial and tourist transport should be so neglected as to be in a condition which would force motorists to consider taking another road to and from the city, is a tiling which should not be. The driver has to run the gantlet of thousands of potholes, about which both resident and visiting motorists have raised a wellgrounded complaint.

Stringent criticism was voiced by a prominent Christchurch motorist today. He stated that the road was a nightmare of potholes, which a motorist, rather than face, would drive miles out of his way in entering or leaving the city.

Going out of Christchurch, the motorist’s troubles commence immediately he leaves the bitumen surface of Papanui Road at the intersection of Norman’s Road. Unless he keeps to the tram track, which is in a fair state of preservation, he must go right over to the side channel to obtain anything in the way of a smooth passage. Studded with potholes, the already worn out and neglected surface of the road presents the veritable “ rocky road to Dublin ” to motorists and cyclists. Leading to Papanui township there is an extraordinarily rough portion, which must place an excessive strain on the springs and working parts of vehicles. On the north side of the township there is a single road in fair condition, which offers respite until Gardiner's Road, about a mile further on, is reached. From this intersection to Northcote Road there is about a quarter of a mile of road which is also in a bad state.

Coming into the city, the motorist must take the east side of the road. No relief is offered by the tram track, and the road is in a frightful condition* being full of potholes. Clouds of dust are driven up by motors and cause a nuisance which is being continually complained of by residents. The intersection of Papanui, Hare wood and North Roads, where there is a traffic dome, is also in a shockingly potholed state.

It is commonly remarked that the worst roads in Canterbury are those leading into the city. Visitors make the most caustic references to these approaches, and state that in no place except sleepy Christchurch would they be tolerated for a month, let alone years. It is the opinion of motorists that it is up to the City Council and the Waimairi County Council to get together at once and formulate some scheme that will change this important avenue from the nightmare it is.

REPAIRS TO COMMENCE ON NORTH ROAD SOON.

When his attention was drawn to a complaint regarding holes which have been formed in the North Road between St Bede’s College and the Styx Bridge, the chairman of the Waimairi County Council, Mr C. Cross, stated that the council had considered this matter, and would shortly take steps to have the road restored to its former condition. The holes, he stated, had formed as the result of drainage operations, which had been necessary in connection with the laying down of the bitumen surface. WORK TO COMMENCE IN MARCH NEXT. When the complaint was drawn under the attention of Mr W. J. Walter, a member and past chairman of the Waimairi County Council, he stated that the council intended to concrete the surface of North Road from the city boundary at Langdon’s Road, to Northcote Road. The council was anxious to make a start with the work, and would commence it in March next year, subject to the approval of the Main Hihways Board. Negotiations had been entered into with the Tramway Board, which was now considering whether it showld re-lay the Papanui extension line or substitute for it trolley buses. If the board decided to relay the track, it had been stated that it would be put down in the centre of the road. This being so, the County Council would construct the road in concrete on both sides of the tram track. Mr Walter stated that the road had lapsed into its present bad condition after the laying down of the sewer, three months ago. He added that subject to the approval of the Highways Board, it -was intended to extend the concreted section of North Road from Chaney’s Corner to the new bridge over the Waimakariri River,