THE HUTT ROAD

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 60, 4 December 1926, Page 7

THE HUTT ROAD

BITUMINISING WORK AT TAITA SURFACING IN GORGE HELD UP The Wellington and Suburban Highway Board have made a start with the bituminising of the Hutt Road, between Avalon Park and the Taita church, while the stretch between Lower Hutt and Avalon Park will be similarly dealt with as soon as the plans are approved by the authorities. The bituminising of the Hutt Road, between Lower Hutt and the I aita Gorge, was held up last season on account of the existing road formation not being in the centre of the surveyed road. These circumstances also applied, to some extent, to the road from Silverstream railway bridge to the commencement of the bitumen in the Upper Hutt borough. Some little time ago, however, at the invitation ot the Main Highwavs Board, the chairman of the Hutt County Council (Mr. S. Blackley) discussed with them this question, among other matters of interest ill connection with the main roads in the county. After discussion with the Main Highways Board and also representatives of the Weliington and Suburban Highways Board, it was agreed that a subsidy would be granted for any bitumen work done on the existing formation between the boundaries of the Lower and Upper Hutt boroughs. The work of surfacing the road through the Taita Gorge cannot be commenced until the road -itself-nas been widened. This work is held up pending a definite decision from the Railway Department as to their intention' in extending the railway on the eastern side of tlie Hutt Valley. Manv people have been heard to express regret at the attitude of the Railwav Department in holding tip this very essentia! work, as the in-crease-in traffic during the past twelve months indicates that before long the Taita Gorge Road, as it exists at present, will not be capable of safely carrying the additional traffic in the near future. A new bridge, erected over the Hutt River, opposite Stokes Valiev, bv Mr. W H. George, maybe helpful in relieving the congestion of traffic in the gorge, but then, again, the Western Hutt Road is so narrow that it is only suitable for. one-way traffic.