PROPOSED DIVERSION

Waikato Independent, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 3422, 26 February 1938, Page 5

PROPOSED DIVERSION

TE AWAMUTU - - CAMBRIDGE MAIN ROAD WAIPA COUNCIL ATTITUDE A petition signed by 119 ratepayers was presented to yesterday’s meeting of the Waipa County Council, praying that the council will keep faith with the ratepayers who voted for the loan in respect of the reconstruction and sealing of the Tc Awamutu-Cambridge main highway via Monavale, which they considered was the direct route, was placed before the council. It was mentioned that 92 other ratepayers had petitioned asking for deviation of the highway via Chamberlain’s Road and Roto-o-rangi. C r Garland stated that Learnington Town Board was supporting the latter petition. He added that the opinion that the bulk of the traffic to the Cambridge high level bridge was from the Roto-o-rangi district. Cr Onion said it was regrettable that the Roto-o-rangi project was not advanced earlier. Cr Garland explained that the settlers in that district had understood that the road between Leamington and Roto-o-rangi was to be .sealed. : Question of Mileage The engineer said that in any event the old bridge near Chamberlain’s would have to be renewed. The engineer, answering the chairman, said the present main highway was if miles shorter than the route via Roto-o-rangi. The actual chainage through the county was 20 chains shorter than through Roto-o-rangi, the difference being accounted for by the length through Leamington town district. Cr Graham said any alteration in the authorised route would be objected to by settlers in Kaipaki riding. - The chairman thought the council would have to take another poll of ratepayers if it was seriously intended to change the route. Cr Onion concurred, and again regretted that the Roto-o-rangi settlers had not acted earlier. It was suggested that if the Main Highways Board would accept the Roto-o-rangi - Leamington Road, at ; present a county highway, as a main / highway, much of the trouble would be averted, for it would meet the needs of the Kairangi settlement and Roto-o-rangi district. .Cr Livingstone expressed similar views. The chairman said the Public Works Department officers at Hamilton had been asked by the High- ' ways Board for a report. , Based on Traffic Tallies To a question, Mr Civil said the choice of the highway via Monavale '■ Lad originally been based on traffic tallies, but in recent years much more traffic had developed via Roto-o-rangi. His solution was to induce the Highways Board to accept the ■4i miles between Leamington and Roto-o-rangi as a main highway. The chairman said there had been plenty of publicity given the ratepayers before the route via 'Monavale was recommended to and adopted by the Highways Board. Cr Garland said the council’s first -and primary duty was to consider the advantages of the ratepayers and not to be influenced by facilities for motorists passing through the district. The chairman . remarked that if the change were made, by which the J Monavale route would become a J county road, there would be a ( greater cost of maintenance_,io be * shouldered by the ratepayers. Cr Church was opposed to any al- j deration, unless a poll was taken 1 over the whole county. Cr Garland favoured leaving a de- 1 cision to the Highways Board and ( Public Works Department. < After some further discussion the t council decided to reaffirm its pre- j vious decision. It was also decided to forward to the Public Works Department a j ■copy of the petition • received from j ratepayers in favour of retaining the present route via Monavale.