MANGAITI DEVIATION

Putaruru Press, Volume II, Issue 18, 14 February 1924, Page 2

MANGAITI DEVIATION

NOW COMPLETED. A Broad Highway. The five mile deviation on the road between Tokoroa and Atiamuri is now completed. After several months’ strenuous effort by the Public Works Department*, this 1 vaglff, which obviates the KakokaraJii culvert, and the steep and difficult route over the Mangaiti hill, was open for traffic for the first time on Friday, and Mr. K. S. Cox, of Ongaroto, Atiamuri, county councillor for the Tokoroa riding, who went through the deviation in a light car on Saturday in returning from tlie county council meeting, held the previous day, reports that it was in excellent order for both light* and heavy cars. It took him but 15 minutes to traverse the whole length of the new formation. The construction of lho. deviation was commenced by the Public Works Department a considerable time back, but was abandoned for some two years or more. However, as the result of agitation by various organisations, the work was re-started some months ago, and mainly at the representation of Mr. Cox was expedited until .it now stands completed. It is a particularly important work in that it opens a broad highway for traffic all the year round from the Waikato to Wairakei, Taupo, Napier and Wellington on the. one hand, and from the Waikato to Rotorua on the other. The deviation is practically level throughout, whereas the cld road, over the hill, was not only very steep in places, but in wet weather became practically impassable, thus rendering* the road of little account in winter. However, the deviation should remedy this in a very decided manner.