A DANGEROUS ARTERIAL ROAD

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2666, 1 December 1923, Page 2

A DANGEROUS ARTERIAL ROAD

The Foxton-Levin road for a distance of about two miles on the Foxton side of the Whirokino bridge is probably the worst stretch of arterial highway within or without the province. It is no exaggeration to say that persons would have to he strapped in cars tn retain their seats while negotiating it and motorists and those driving horsedrawn vehicles, have to exercise the greatest care. The surface of the road in parts when negotiated by a lorry, rises and falls perceptibly, while the numerous ruts are like shell holes. This road is constructed over what is known as a floating surface, or swamp. The County Council has approached the Government for assistance to maintain it, hut the Departmental engineer has advised that until the road is deviated to higher ground, no assistance will be forthcoming. The County Council, however, contends that a loan for such purpose would not be sanctioned by the ratepayers in the riding. The Alinister in turn, says that as the road affects the whole county and not the riding, it should be treated as a county highway. There the matter rests in the meantime. The only hope for improvement is in the Highways Board administration —and that may he some two years hence. Tn the meantime, should heavy rain fall, the road will lie quite impassable.