THAMES COAST ROAD.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5445, 8 July 1929, Page 2

THAMES COAST ROAD.

WIDENING AND IMPROVEMENT RELIEF WORK. The Thames coast road from Thames Borough itself to where the highway turns inland to skirt Manaia Harbour is receiving attention at the hands of relief workers and local body employees. Thames County have some dozen men making minor improvements to the portion of the road under its jurisdiction, and have completed a fine concrete bridge to replace the old wooden McCormack’s bridge at Thornton’s Bay. The most important work, however, is that if widening the coastal route from the ThamesCoromandel county boundaries for a distance of 41 miles. This is being undertaken by the Goverment with the aid of relief workers. The road, which is very narrow over this distance, with some bad blind turns, is to be vddened along the whole length mentioned to a minimum of 18 feet. Thirty men are already working in gangs on it, and very appreciable improvements have been made. The widening in itself presents no great difficulties, but work is being somewhat hampered and retarded through falls of earth from precipitous hillsides, which are keeping a number of men busy in clearing away.

To the thirty mon employed there at present will be added 15 from Waihi to-day. The reason these men are being placed there is because no suitable work is offering in their own district. Some time ago they were given employment near Waihi,. but the job petered out in three weeks. In all fairness these men had to be given a chance, and as the only other alternative was to send them first to Auckland and thence to work at Tairua by steamer, the Public Works Department decided on the Coast Road, the alternative being beyond question too expensive.