THE "DEVIL'S ELBOW”

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 72, Issue 233, 1 October 1929, Page 6

THE "DEVIL'S ELBOW”

WORK NEARLY COMPLETED TEN CHAINS SHORTER ROUTE. The biggest task of its kind undertaken for some time in this district is nearing completion—the elemination of that dangerous bend on tho Turakina Hill known as the “devil’s elbow.” Within a day or two the big filling which bridges the sharp cleft in the hillside will be brought to its required level and the new road route will show up in its properly defined course Apart from removing one of the worst corners in the district the work has resulted in reducing the length of highway by no less than ten chains. There will be that much less to metal, to lay down permanently, or to maintain in the future. The most modern machinery available was used on the job, 1500 to 2000 cubic yards of earth a week being poured into the gully across which the new road was engineered to take. The work was carried out without interfering with the progress of traffic to and from the city of Wanganui. That, in itself was not easy of accomplishment. The class of traffic using the highways to-day takes a good deal of catering for, even when work of a temporary nature has to be undertaken to prevent blockage. A reasonably smooth surface had to be provided to get traffic past while the job went ahead. It was only natural that slight inconvenience was caused to passing vehicles, but the ultimate good that will accrue will balance matters in the future. The work was carried out by the Rangitikei County Council under the scheme of financing inaugurated by the Highways Board. The contractor was Mr J. Moye, of Wanganui.