Untitled

Hokitika Guardian, 11 June 1930, Page 4

Greater interest is -being manifested by . outside motorists in the condition of West Coast roads. No doubt ' the. bridging of the fivers on the Alain Highways has contributed to the attention,' l?ut the roads generally have been so much improved that tiie diffi-

cutties of the past for motoring trips have been largely removed. Just now a good deal of publicity is being given to'the opening, of • the new route to the Coast via the Lewis Pass, hut 'Westland in particular cannot afford 1o neglect' attention to the Arthur’s Pass route which has ‘been for so long the chief road portal from, the Bast Coast In that connection, despite the fact that this is the mid-winter period of the year; motor traffic east and,west via the Qtira Gorge arid Arthur’s' Pass was possible over the week end, and in accomplished in good travelling time. . The road surfa e is well maintained throughout, arc! there are only t he creeks to consider as the more serious draw back. It would be well if the bridging of these crossings wa jojV' in hand progressively with as little delay as possible so as to establish all the year round traffic, excepting when interrupted by exceptional snowfalls. It is highly desirable for the traffic to the Westland section of the West Coast, that the work should he put in hand, llogarditig the bridging of the major crossing at the Healey, there is the suggestion of. a deviation at the \vaimakariri Cutting, crossing the river at that point and avoiding Paddy’s Bend and Bruce’s Creek crossing, as well as the Bealey. The new route would follow the north-side of If e river in the vicinity of Cora Lynn railway station, but Halpin Creek would .<4li 11 have to be crossed to rejoin the main Coast road again on the north side of tlie Bealey. This route i„s to be the subject, of a special survey, and that certainly should be put in hand as soon as possible. When the information as to route and probable cost is available, the price could be weighed against the retention of the present route and the bridging of Bruce’s Creek and the Bealey crossing. It behoves local interests to keep this matter in tho forefront of local requirements, notwithstanding that the locality referred to is on the other side of the ranges and is situated in Canterbury, It is an essential link in the Arthur’s Pass route, and where improvements are possible they should be urged with all. force. It is manifest that those agitating for the opening of the Lewis Pass route are not going to slacken their, paisii endeavours now that the road has been surveyed and a line fixed. This definition of tine position makes it all the more important and necessary for Westland’s wants in the matter of direct road access to Canterbury to be urged with all available force, and not permit the agiialion to lanquish for lack of local interest.