EAST COAST HIGHWAY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 26, 19 June 1939, Page 5

EAST COAST HIGHWAY

DIRECT ROUTE QUESTION TO-NIGHT'S BIG MEETING / IMPORTANCE TO WHAKATA i\ r K Called by His Worship the Mayer, to.night's meeting 6f all interested in the proposal for bettering the main East Coast road should have Avide appeal . The matter of direct road commnni nation between Whakatane and Opotiki as a alternative to the long loop via Taneatua, Waimana and Nuku. liou is one which has interested Wha. katane Chamber of Commerce and • local bodies' for very many years. In, the almost prehistoric days we did "have a coach route via Ohope and Te Hora and the ferry at which was more direct than either of 'the present routes. Then came the Maraetotara Gorge-Wainui route with its tortuous alignment and steep climbs, which has remained till now the only alternative to the longer route. MOTOR TRANSPORT. Time marches on and the advent of the motor car called for better and safer roads v as free as possible from erratic alignment, and wider formation. Agitation after agitation resulted with a view to the improvement of the shorter route via Wainui "between the two towns. Much money ■was spent by the County Council m straightening and widening the 'in its worst places, but the continual passage of driven stock to .and fro -along this shorter route, wi'th the •consequent breaking down of the •edge of the road, has kept the route "in the category of a "nightmare" for car drivers. STRATEGICAL ROUTE. Time marches on and with the advent of the Labour Government,, and later on the war scares, and the obvious necessity for as direct and sound a route as possible between, sea boa,rd towns for defence purposes, made this route loom large again with settlers and Government alike. 'Came along our Minister for Public Works, who declared to a large deputation at less than two years ago, and after apparently a nightmare drive over the Maraetotara Wainui Road, that he would not spend a sixpence on the road he had just travelled over and that he had "instructed his, departmental enginjeers to prospect a direct route for the Main Highway between Whakatane -pnd Opotiki. He definitely pro. mised these settlers that he would instruct his engineers to prospect also a route from Wainui to connect with this main highway, which was at that time suggested to proceed Along the sea coast, and by bridge across the Ohiwa—practically on the lines of the old coaching route. Ever since then, parties of engineers have been working, aerial photos have been taken and it would seem much has been spent in prospecting for the best route for our jiroposed highway via the coast. P.W.D. ACTIVITIES. Many years ago it was suggested by a prominent Public Works engineer that by a tunnel through Kolii Point, a good route could be had for this end of the project. Subsequent prospecting has proved this route

with its absence of bad bends and its shorter length appeals from several points of vieyf, to local interests. The Public Works engineers have, i«; is understood, now completed their preliminary surveys and it is a matter of choosing the best route. In matter it has been expected (pro iiired?) that the local bodies inter, csted would be consulted, and the j'ans shown to them, before a definite choice was made. THE LOCAL VIEWPOINT. It appears now however, that this cxpccted consultation is not to take place before a decision on route is to be made. l't may be that the local body representatives will be able to place aspects before the powers that be which they in Wellington or elsemay not be conversant with, matters which may make a material difference in, the wisest choice of route, and if 'this conference does not take place, there will at least he doubts about the wisdom of the choice, whatever it is. Nothing can be lost or destroyed by'a,-free and franlc discussion of the routes with the local and the purpose of "the meeting this evening is to discuss the matter, and if

thought fit, to ask the department for some enlightenment before the final decision is made.