TIRAU CROSSING.

Putaruru Press, Volume VII, Issue 319, 19 December 1929, Page 5

TIRAU CROSSING.

BRIDGE PROPOSAL. Council Increases Share. The District Highways Council advised the Matamata County Council on Friday, in connection with the level crossing at Tirau, that the Railway Department was not favourable to finding any money towards the cost of the elimination of the crossing owing to the limited traffic on the railway. Before abandoning the scheme, however, the Highways Council submitted the following facts for the council’s consideration. The estimated cost was £4OOO, of which the county would be asked to find £7OO. On the other hand if automatic protective devices were installed the cost of these would be borne by the Railway Department and the Highways Board. The council was asked whether it would find the sum of £7OO. The engineer stated that the Highways Board engineer two or three years ago had suggested the county’s share would be about £SOO, and if put on the estimates as the council’s policy, it might have the effect of tending to finalise the matter. This had been agreed to. The chairman: Simply to look at the road from casual observance the bridge underneath seems to be the solution, , i ■ | '•» j ! Cr. Cox held it was a very bad crossing.

Cr. Allen agreed, and stated that though tourist traffic was the heavier, for the sake of £2OO they should get the matter settled once and for all. Cr. Morris asked if it was possible to shift the highway down a bit and cross underneath the railway. The engineer stated that all possibilities had been considered. The present idea was a straight run from Tirau to the bride, then an S bend to the bridge. On the motion of Crs. Allen and Cox the council agreed to the sum of £7OO being provided on the estimates for the 1 council’s share of an overhead bridge.