WEST COAST ROADS

Hokitika Guardian, 15 May 1926, Page 1

WEST COAST ROADS

DEVIATION SUGGESTED. A suggestion that a deviation should he made in the West Coast road so as to obviate fording the Waimakniriri River was made to “Roadster” of the Christchurch “Press,” recently by Air T. Cloudcsley, of Christchurch, Air Cloudcsley said that lie considered that a. road should be constructed along the right hank of the river from the bridge which crosses the stream near Cass and which at present leads to the

Mt. White Station. By using this bridge, he said, a ear could, provided it road was constructed, proceed across the Howden River (known to some people as the north branch of the Waimakiriri) to a. point beyond the confluence of the Waimakariri and Bealev Rivers, and cross tlie latter stream somewhere before reaching Bealev Fiat. The bridge, be said, was in a good state of repair and could take all the traffic likely to go over it. while the fording of the Howden was not likely to cause much trouble. Certainly it would not bo worse to ford than the streams which had to be crossed at any time before reaching Cass. The section of road which would lead to the most trouble in construction was that, portion between the confluence of the 'Waimakariri and the Bealev, the latter of which rivers v.as sometimes a difficult stream to negotiate. while at other times it was quite dry. Mr Cloudesley stated that there had been a proposal made that a trafficbridge should be erected beside the present railway bridge, which crossed the Waimakariri. but owing to the length of such a structure lie thought that it was not likely to be undertaken. In view of the number of cars which made the trip between Christchurch and the West Coast at certain seasons of the year and the uncertainty of being able to cross the Waimakariri in time of flood, he thought the proposal he had made well worthy of consideration,