Modern Motorway Still Top Secret

Chronicle (Levin), 17 May 1948, Page 4

Modern Motorway Still Top Secret

| A preliminary 'plan of the southerri section of the modern autobahn which will eventuaiiy swfeep smoothly from Wellington to Aubkland has been prepared by the' Piiblic Works Department and is now being i-eferred to local bodies along the route for comment. Now 'that work on the Wellington access imbtorway, which by-passfes JohnJsonville, is progressing towards completion, the department is 'apparently beginnihg to further proposals for the continuation df the motorway up through the North Island. | The 'first section of this road, ' Which has been styled by the de- ) partment as P "limitfed accfess imbtorway," , will, according to the departmental preliminary plan, [traverse the west coast from Paej kakariki to Foxton. The plan shows Ibss than half a dozen accesses to the highway along this lerigth. : If the plan is put into effect the |ne\v route will ruri., for the most part on the coast side of the presf ent highway, by-passing Levin by 'sevbrai miles." Its alignment will be a considerable iiriprovement on that of the highway. • In this respect Palmerston North may fihd itself with something to be concerned about. Rumour has it that a motorway is also plannerd for the east coast. if that is so Palmerston North may bne day • firid itself uncdmfortably straddled by iwb main arteries of the North Island. j The Paekakariki-Foxton plan is as yet only in a most preparatory stage and is officially rega-rded as confidential.