Manawatu Herald SATURDAY, JULY 27, 1929. THE WHIROKINO HIGHWAY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 3976, 27 July 1929, Page 2

Manawatu Herald SATURDAY, JULY 27, 1929. THE WHIROKINO HIGHWAY.

THE local Chamber of Commerce at Thursday night’s meeting passed a resolution of importance not only to iPoxton hut to all who use. The Wiel'lington-Auekland highway. The motion urged upon the Highways Council the necessity of) raising the main'highway leading northward from the Whirokino bridge to the Government drain, a distance of about half-a-mile above flood level, in order that through traffic should not he diverted many miles at considerable delay and expense to motorists. This portion of the main highway will connect a deviation from a further portion of road subject to flooding along higher ground. It is stated that if this half-mile section is raised three feet it would keep the highway permanently open. It has been stated also that this section of highway traverses a “floating” foundation. This is not borne out by experience. The road in places, after inundation, has slioKvn depressions caused by flood scouring. A further objection is that the raising of the road would be in the nature of a stop bank. This objection could be easily overcome with sectional concrete culverts. Flood scouring of the highway is another objection, but the overflow is not in the nature of a swift moving current, but is sluggish, and could be overcome by boulder or eoncirete embankments. The filling presents no difficulty as there is plenty of spoil nearby for this work. The work, however, is one of national importance and expert opinion should be submitted to the Highways iCbuncil on the subject.