LEVIN-BARTON ROUTE SURVEYED.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 2822, 11 December 1924, Page 3

LEVIN-BARTON ROUTE SURVEYED.

THE ENGINEER’S REPORT. ESTIMATED COST £66,000. The following is the report supplied by Mr J. Wood, Inspecting Engineer to the Chief Public Works Engineer, as the result of the Minister’s recent request fox' a tidal survey of the Levin-Foxton-Marton route.

“I have made a careful examination of the eounti'y, obtaining levels where necessary along the route of the proposed deviation of the Main Trunk railway between Levin and Marton. The total distance of the proposed route between these two stations is approximately 38 miles, which is 18 miles shorter than the present railway. “With the exception of the crossings of the Manawatu and Rangitikei Rivers, the route presents very little difficulties. I had anticipated some trouble in grading up from' Bulls to Marton, but I find that a 1 in 100 grade can be obtained. In making my estimate therefore, I have allowed ifor this being the ruling grade throughout the deviation. With the long straights and easy curvature ■ obtainable, this limiting grade will give an excellent line for speed and economy in workng. “The followng is a detail description in which I have enumerated the chief difficulties and the salient featxxres of the route.

“After leaving Levin Station, the line must traverse the township of Levin by practically making a duplication of the present line, as no departure from the present line can be made until the principal parts of the town is cleared. Near the northern boundary of Levin, the line will swing across undulating country to the lowest part of the.ridge between the present main line and Lake Horowhenun. It will cross the l’idge with a fairly deep cutting, probably on a rising grade of 1 in 100. •’

“After crossing this undulating country, the line will fall on a flat grade to the Manawatu River. The bridge across this river will need to be about 1,300* ft. long to give sufficient waterway for large floods, and will be about 25 to 30ft. above low water.

“After crossing this river, the line runs across the Moutoa Swamp for a distance of li miles. A bank averaging 12ft. in height will be required. I do not anticipate more than the usual amount of sinking that occurs in building a bank over swamp country, and it will not take long for it- to reach a satisfactory foundation. After crossing the swamp the line will pass through two large sand ridges. Beyond these ridges and about 30 to 40 chains to the east of the main street of Foxton will probably he the location of the station for Foxton. There is 1 good-level ground here that has not yet been much built on, giving plenty of room for a good sized station. A branch line will be taken off this station to the Foxton wharf. “From Foxton to the crossing of the Rangitikei River above Bulls, the railway can be ran in almost a straight line for a distance of abont 20 miles. The. formation over this length is easy and the ground rises in gentle slopes, presenting no difficulty in obtaining easy grades. - “The country is crossed by low sand dunes in the shape oif ridges running in a west north-westerly direction and being generally normal to the direction of the line. I would propose to cross the Rangitikei River about li miles above Bulls and just above the Cemetery - Reseiwe. There is a good bridge site hei'e with cliffs* about 50ft. high on either side. The grade down to the bridge on the south side appears quite easy, but the northern approach presents more difficulties on account of the location of a station site for Bulls. “The terrace on which the station will be located is just behind the racecourse and the station will be a little over one mile from the town - ship. “This terrace is about 60 to 65ft. above the river and a fairly heavy cutting and bank will be required between the station and the bridge to get a 1 in 100 grade between them - The bridge will probably, on this account, be a little higher than would be necessary to escape'floods, but as it will no doubt consist of long deck spans, a good deal of height will be obtained in any case. Bulls station will be approximately 200 ft. above sea level, whereas Greatforcf is 341 and Marton 461 ft. above sea level. “The distance from the proposed Bulls station to where the deviation could join the present line about one mile north of Greatford, is approximately 34' miles. The rise between these two., points is 146 ft. so that a 1 in" 100 can be obtained. As this junction point is, however, only two miles from Marton station, it will no doubt be much more economical to run the line right to Miarton, or in other words to duplicate this two miles offline. “The present line has steeper grades than 1 in 100, some of it being on a 1 in 57 grade, but as the rise beteween the suggested junction and. Marton is only 113 ft. and the line straight, it would be possible to obtain a 1 in 100 grade over the duplicated portion of the line. “The cost of altering the present line to a 1 in 100 grade would not of course, be a charge against the deviation, and I have not included this in my estimate of the cost. My estimate includes, however, the cost of making the deviation right up to ‘ Marton station, and the cost of alterations to Marton Station that will be necessary to accommodate the traffic for the new line,.l esti-

mate the cost of these alterations at £25,000. “Herewith I enclose a detail estimate showing the total cost of the deviation to be £660,000, including £72,000 for terminal station enlargement and alterations. “I also enclose a lithograph showing the route of the deviation as near as can be obtained without actual survey.” THE ESTIMATE. Levin-Marton Deviation (38 miles) First mile through Levin £IO,OOO Four miles at £16,000, £64,000 Three miles at £12,00 £36,000 Mana. river bridge (1300 ft) £50,000 Three miles at £16,000 £48,000 Foxton station (half mile) £20,000 Twenty miles at £II,OOO £220,000 Half mile at £16,000 £B,OOO Rangitikei river bridge £60,000 Six miles at £12,000 £72,000 Terminal stations £72,000 £660,000 ESTIMATE 'ON HIGH SIDE. . Mr A. J. McKenzie, Assistant-Engineer-in-Chief, PWj. Department, in conversation with a League supporter, stated that the estimates given above were on the high side, as was desirable in such matters, making allowance for contingent circumstances. Mr R. W. Holmes, ex-Engineer-in-Ohief, is confident that the work could be carried out for £530,000. As a matter of fact he had earlier in the week, prior to final calculations, been of the opinion that £SOO- - would meet the construction, thus approximating the League estimate of £490,000, as per statement of the President of the Levin Chamber of Commerce published early in the campaign, this taking Dominion average basis, less Fox-ton-Hinmtangi section of FoxtonPn liners I on N. line —six miles. lii 1920, Mr W. C. Kensington surveyor, estimated the cost at £380.000. PRIME MINISTER’S VIEW. The Prime Minister has written thanking the League for the expression of appreciation accorded him at the recent general meeting in Foxton, and staling lhat his health lias benefited by the sojourn at Okoroire. At an early date Mr Mas.'•c.y had made il clear that be was still as sympathetic as in 1922 with the local point of view in regard to the Hiley scheme being well suited for the needs of Palmerston North, and as per bis recently published letter ik still opposed to the larger expenditure scheme.