TORTUOUS HIGHWAY

Evening Star, Issue 23382, 27 September 1939, Page 3

TORTUOUS HIGHWAY

ROAD TO PORT CHALMERS WIDENING AND STRAIGHTENING ADVOCATED DESCRIBED AS “ SNAKE-FASHIONED TRACK " A description of the Dnncdin-Port Chalmers Highway as “ that awful snake-fashioned track ” was applied by Mr H. M, Maekay, president of tho Otago Expansion League, at the annual meeting last night. He suggested that this highway should bo made worthy of tho name by straightening and widening it so that there would bo a smart approach between the shipping at Port Chalmers and tho city. Under these war conditions, he said, it was vitally necessary to have fast and efficient transport facilities with the port, where largo warships, troops, and supply vessels might unexpectedly converge. The contentions of Mr Maekay were warmly supported by Mr W. B. Steel, tho secretary of the league. He said that the configuration of the land around Otago Harbour was such that the engineer who planned a road had only two choices. He could either take his road over the top or round the beach. On the Peninsula side this latter method had resulted in a beautiful winding drive, which was definitely a scenic asset, but on the west shore the paramount claims of the railway made a beach road impossible. Consequently, the road had to climb spurs and round bays and gullies. In the opinion of the league the immediate future offered fi splendid opportunity of achieving this purpose. The duplication of the railway line to Sawyers Bay bad carried the permanent way to seaward of the old track and left many stretches of the shore available for road-making. The two bays at Burkes, for example, could be spanned by a stretch of level, straight highway unblemished by side roads. St. Leonards, with the aid of a small embankment, conld eliminate a most aggravating detour, and the abandoned railway track beyond Curie’s Point could open a vista of quick transit to gladden the heart of every motor driver. Sawyers Bay itself did not present a very difficult engineering problem, and in these days of high explosives and bulldozers a road in to Pert Chalmers could he cut which would meet the end of George street and lead direct to the wharf, said Mr Steel. This was the crux of the question, because a fast modern highway between the port and the city was an absolute necessity Shipbuilding had not reached its maximum, and bigger vessels than even the Dominion Monarch were envisaged. If the Port of Otago were to remain one of the leading harbours it must provide water for the ships and a road for transport. The league recognised that only the most essential works could be undertaken during a period of war, hut it was contended that when the first rush of men to the colours had taken place' and the temporary work of camp and base preparations were over, a number of men would be out of employment, There would be elderly family men with, homes in the city. Here was a work which would be of importance, which would absorb many, require no camps for the wohkers or other extra cost, and the benefits would be felt in the increased facilities for shipping, and make a highway which would extend the city down the harbour-side. The Mayor of Port Chalmers (Mr T. Seollay) said he was a strong advocate for the straightening of the highway. During the last war more service was given at Port Chalmers, which was in the nature of a sub-naval base, than any other port in New Zealand, transports being arranged there and hospital ships fitted out. Conditions were vastly different since then, and transport shared in those changes. There was a real need for the straightening of the road to shorten the journey between the port and the city. Mr E. Wood, secretary of the Dunedin Importers’ and Shippers’ Association, also urged that the road be reformed. Anyone who wanted to reach Port Chalmers in a hurry, such as those connected with shipping interests, realised the pitfalls of this highway, the many bends slowing progress considerably.