MAIN HIGHWAYS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 20 October 1942, Page 3

MAIN HIGHWAYS

IMPROVEMENTS IN NELSON DISTRICT

WORK NOW SEVERELY RESTRICTED ! A report of the work which the Main : Highways Board had carried out in l the Nelson district was read at the | meeting of the Automobile Association : (Nelson) last night. The report was by Mr Wynyard, the motorists’ repre j sentative on the Main Highways Board.! who stated: “The reduction in construction and improvement works brought about by restricted finance has been intensified, and the position made more difficult by the present shortage of materials, plant and manpower brought about by the war. Reconstruction has practically stopped since the completion of works which were in hand at the beginning of last financial year, except for such cases as were made urgent by military requirements. “In the Nelson district three miles was sealed on the Wangamoa Hill, and a further length of 3.? miles metalled and prepared for sealing. The Teal Valley bridge at Wakapuaka was completed. after a good deal of unavoidable delay, partly due to flood damage, but principally to works of national importance receiving preference regarding plant and staff. It will be readily understood that the same reason influences many other works in this as well as other districts throughout the Do “The repair of flood damage has been a major item on the Riehmond-Colling wood and Nelson-Westport highways, work on the latter extending over several months. On this highway the erection of the Granity creek bridge has been in progress and is towards completion.

“On the two highways leading from Murchison to Maruia, via the Shenandoah and Matakitaki valleys, extensive repairs and renewals of small bridges and culverts, as well as metalling, have been carried out. “In the West Coast district which, from the nature of the country, is chiefly remarkable for its numerous bridges and accompanying river pro tective works, these figure largely on the year’s programme. However, surface improvements include some 3 miles of new sealing and the widening and metalling of the Karamea highway was extended by two miles, the sealing of which will be done later.” Mr W. Gould commented on the im

provements which had been carried out on the Wangamoa Hill road. “I re member the time when I had to jack a bus up 18 times to get it round a corner o that road,” he said. Mr Gould added that the improved road was a fine job and he would like to see some tribute recorded to the people who had pioneered this work. A motion was carried placing on record the association's debt to those who had started the movement for having the work first put in hand.