OPOTIKI-TANEATUA LINE

Opotiki News, Volume I, Issue 78, 2 September 1938, Page 3

OPOTIKI-TANEATUA LINE

PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT . QUESTION OF HIGHWAY The Hon. R. Semple, -Minister of Public Works, in his Public Works Statement-,7 referred to the East Coast Main Trunk Railway, Extension to Opotilii, as.-.'follows : The Government decided recently that the construction of the railway from Taneatua to Opotiki was to be proceded with, and for the past month or so survey parties have been investigating . the question of alternative routes. ,7, - -.*.7-- '' It has now been decided to adhere to the route through the Waimana Gorge, and a survey party is proceeding to peg the permanent- line. It will .be necessary to carry out a fair amount of survey work before construction : can commence, but it is anticipated that- the work will be under way before the end of the year. The construction of the railway necessitates the abandonment of portions of the existing State ..highway through the Waimana Gorge, and investigations are at present in hand to ascertain the- possibility of constructing the State highway on a different route. Even if this is done it will be necessary to construct' a new road through the Waimana Gorge also, so as to give farmers the same road access as tlicv have at present.