GREAT SOUTH ROAD

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 7, Issue 353, 15 February 1918, Page 4

GREAT SOUTH ROAD

Proposed Deviation The oft-discussed question of an improvement in the Great South Road on the northern side of Rangiriri was again discussed by the General Committee of the Auckland Automobile Association on Tuesday. A letter was received from Cr <i. H. Morrison, member for the Pukekawa Eiding of the Raglan County Council, regarding a proposed deviation of the Great South Road by following a route through the Pukekawa and Whangape Ridings from the Tuakau bridge to the new bridge at Rangiriri, a distance of about 17 miles. The unmade portion of the road, he stated, was only about four miles and a-quarter. This deviation, he said, would cut out the whole of the hilly portion of the Great South road between Runciman and Rangiriri. The route passed through Pukekohe and Tuakau, and for several miles it ran alongside the Waikato River bank. The road between Pukekohe and Tuakau was a good metal road. There was a disused portion of the railway line between Buckland and Tuakau; which, if converted, would complete a direct and almost flat road alongside the railway line. It also was stated that the road between the Churchill township and the Rangiriri bridge could be considerably shortened by following the bank of the "Waikato river. The Committee decided that, whilst its could extend its moral support to the opening up of the road suggested by Mr Morrison, it was unable, without further consideration, to commit itself to the support of the proposal to make it part of the Great South I Road. ,

The Whangamarino Road Board wrote asking for a monetary grant towards improving the Rangiriri Hills section of the Great South Road. The Board, it was stated, recently expended £7O on the portion of the road from Rangiriri leading north, and it had submitted proposals for a of £lO9 for further expenditure, but a great deal more was required to make the road moderately safe for motor traffic —lt was decided that the Association, at the present time, could not see its way to grant the desired assistance, the opinion being that until a comprehensive scheme was evolved small grants would be of little use.