ROAD WORKS

Gisborne Times, Volume LXX, Issue 11127, 10 February 1930, Page 2

ROAD WORKS

COAST AND HANG A ROA. BOARD'S i’ROG It AM ALL. COST MAY EXCEED £100,060. Following tho completion of the agreement between the Alain Highways Board and the Cook County Council in regard to the latter body contribution to road work, plans are being prepared on an elxensive scale 4'ur important improvements to the iiUiiii highway along the Coast- and to Wairoa via Hangaroa. Jhe total cost is likely to bo over £IOO,OOO. Arrangements have yet to he completed with the Uawa County Council regarding the programme at tho Tolaga Bay end oi the Coast road. Commenting on tho position, Air. O. G. Thornton. District Engineer, indicated that the board planned to bitumen surface the Coast road from tho end of the present bitumen at Wairoa to Tolaga U :, £- Investigations regarding metal supplies were being carried Out- hv the hoard’s officials, Hick’s Bay or Alotuhora being the probable source from which these will lie obtained. It was probable that little work beyond dumping .metal at certain central points in readiness for carting on to the roads at suitable opportunities would be. undertaken this .summer. In the bituminising of the Coast read, the old road line is .to be followed except over a- few small.'stretches. A small deviation is to be made whore the road traverses the Ataknrorr creek at the northern end of Waimii beach, while a few minor deviation,, are also provided lor ill their estimates. In addition a few of tlie curves are to be improved, but the amount of new read construction to bo attempted will be viwv small indeed. It: is likely that- a start will he made, with the Hangaroa road metalling this summer, although only a ■small stretch, will he possible ol achievement ibis season. Bet,ween Hangaroa and Tinirolo end, there is a stretch of about 3J miles; still to be metalled, while on the AY a iron side of Tiniroto about a mile and a half has to tie dune. It; is thought that, it may be possible to have about half a. mile metalled before the winter, but a proper Bart will not he made until next; summer. At present- metal supeliea are being seen.red from , the Hangaroa River and although it is not known whetK or there will he sufficient easily accessible metal there to complete the work, there slum Id he enough within a comparatively small radius for present- requirements. In connection with the road q» the AVairoa side of Tinirotq, it is pointed out that a rough stretch of cobble stones ,is. likely to be., pulled up in the near future. , the present stone in tlie road to be crushed and replaced with the addition of further metal. In conjunction with this, the road may he formed to a better alignment.