WEST COAST HIGHWAY

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21419, 11 March 1935, Page 12

WEST COAST HIGHWAY

* COMPLETION OF SOUTH ROAD URGED ESTIMATED COST OF £582,250 A comprehensive report on the proposition for the extension of the Main South road on tlie West Coast, over the distance of 137 miles between Makarora, Otago, and Weheka, has been prepared for the Westland County Council. The report emphasises that the extension will add to the scenic attractions of Soutn Westland by providing a drive through a length of forest-borderea highwnv difficult to match in any I oart of' New Zealand, and that it will ' open'up large areas'in Westland, the possibilities of which have not yet been fully realised. A statement has been prepared by the district Public Works engineer at Greymouth, Mr T. A. Johnston, in which the total cost of the work is estimated at £582,250. It is desired to concentrate at the oufset on the completion of the bridges and metalling of the section between Weheka and the Oineta.natea stream, at an estimated cost of £33,000. This, it is stated, would remove a great obstruction to traffic by doing away with the Cook river ford. At present the Government, is being urged to proceed with the construction of "the Fox river bridge. An 18ft, road has been made to the site of this bridge and plans for the structure have been prepared. Nature of Country The district, engineer has reported that southward from the Oinclamaten stream there is a narrow formed and metalled road to the Mahitahi. 23 miles distant: on this length thelvarangarua river and a number of smaller streams are unbridged. From the Mahitahi to the Moeraki, a distance I of 19 miles, the formation is through easy, undulating country—in fact for a total distance of 50 miles from Weheka to the Moeraki river the road i would run through practically flat I country. Making allowance, however, | for the bridging of the numerous j streams and the larger rivers, and for I the cost of bush-falling and clearing, j the heavy rainfall, and the isolation of the work the cost a mile is estimated at £4250. This expenditure would fllow for an 18ft formation over at least half the distance and for a reduced width on the hilly and j more difficult rock sections. The engineer has been over the whole route, and is confident that a satisfactory road location to obviate natural difficulties can be obtained, and that, except on a few sections the gradients would be easy. He states that unless the road is well constructed flood damage to culverts, bridges, and surfacing would be very great, and that in arriving at the esiimates consideration has been given to the restoration expenditure on existing West Coast highways because of excessive rainfall. Areas Benefited In the Bruce Bay area there is an occupied district of about 150.000 acres, states the county report. The capital valuation of th<? district is about £50,000, and the population has increased substantially since ihe last census. If the proposed extension were made suitable runs could be cut up. making for closer settlement and increased production. The srr.vmilling industry which is being established will require better access for supplies as regular shipping is not always available. Below the Bruce Bay area there is still an extent of territory with mineral possibilities which have not yet been investigated. In the far south there fire about 210.0(10 acres of occupied lands, and as the main highway extends south it is expected that this nren will appiecinte in value and interest cind absorb more and more population. The limber lands from the Cook river south to the extreme end of Westland county are expected in 'he future to supply the needs of the Dominion, and the improvement of access is urged as necessary lo the development of the southern district.