POEN BY CHRISIMAS

Opotiki News, Volume I, Issue 80, 7 September 1938, Page 4

POEN BY CHRISIMAS

DEVIL’S EILBOW SECTION NAPIER-WAIIIOA ROAD has been cleared through the section of the Napier-Wairoa main highway ohr' the ,Napier side of the Devil’s Elbow, which lias been closed since , the disastrous flooding in April- It is an- ; tieipated that the old route will be opened to traffic before Christmas. , r ■ Primarily responsible for the splendid progress which has been recorded with the clearing of the debris-strewn road has been an efficient angle-dozer machine which, haying opened a track, through the. .clpsecf l 'foute is now engaged in widening operation. Length' of New Road. The existing deviation is about four miles longer than the highway proper, but has been formed into a good road surface and will fill requirements until the old route is again available to traffic. Before this is brought about it will be necessary to construct about 20 or 30 chains of new road on the hillside above the Te Ngaru Stream bridge,, the original road having been washed .out, leaving the Te Ngaru Stream flowing in its place. Extensive metalling and formation to be carried out',:,,, by - the Public Works Department is expected, to be completed in about three • months, when tile road should once again be open to traffic. In its present state the new track is difficult to negotiate, and motorists are not advised to at.tqmpt the-route for some tiine.