MAIN HIGHWAYS.

Shannon News, 21 January 1924, Page 3

MAIN HIGHWAYS.

HOROWHENUA COUNTY COUNCIL MOVES. TALLY OF TRAFFIC TO BE TAKEN. The Horowhenua County 'Council, at its meeting on Saturday, took its first step in the matter oi the main highway through the County to bo furnished under the Main Highways Board, when it decided in response to District Council’s inquest to have a tally taken of the traffic across the Ohau River Bridge.

A letter was received from the No. ) District Highways Council asking hat tallies ot traffic over a period oi iwu weeks or .preferably a month be ;aken. They should be taken for the lull 24 hours, seven days a week.

The engineer to the Highway District wrote stating* that witli regal'd to Table A (declarations) M.H.I Public Highways recommended to be declared Main Highways, it would he advisable to include any proposed deviations ironi the present routes; lor instance.

at Otaki there was a dangerous level crossing just north of the Otaki Station where, he understood,, several latiU accidents have taken place. The main road could avoid this crossing by following- the original surveyed line and constructing an overhead bridge about quarter of a mile north of the crossing. This would shorten the road by about 10 chains and avoid the right angle turn to. the crossing. On the Levin-Eoxton road, there was a short turn about three-quarters oi a mile on

the Levin side of the Wliirokino Bridge. This might be avoided by a cut through the ridge.

The chairman reported that as tne Council’s representative he had attended the first meeting -before Christinas of the No. 9 District Highway Council. A chairman and committee were elected and each representative, was asked to nominate a road for the main highway through his county. He gathered that the Highways Council was waiting for the Horowhenua County Council to taka the lead in road construction. It recognised that the Horowhenua Council’s was the worst position in regard to through traffic. They all recognised that fixe Board was going to be hampered in the matter oi finance. Those- who were) in first would havuj first say, and they should therefore move as quickly as possible. Alter t)he different roads were nominated it had been found necessary to t-ake tallies of ‘the traffic over them. This cost some hundreds of pounds. It had been said that the Board should bear the cost, hut It had no power to do so. Ha felt that the northern counties were going to “sit down on it” and he thought should get to work. He had already given instructions- to the engineer to get ready to- take a tally. 11a noticed that the engineer had already put up a rail across the Ohau bridge. This was because it was necessary to stop the traffic to got the information. They want a good man who would taka tire information accurately, and while treating the public Tvith absolute courtesy, would be him and not allow anyone to bluster past, without giving the required information.

Cr. Harkness suggested that the Council’s intention to put a barrier oin the bridge should b„e advertised. The chairman objected that this was not necessuiy.

The Engineer said a notice to drive slowly would be put on the bridge at each, end with red and white lights ’on tha barrier. Every precaution would be taken to prevent an accident. The chairman explained -that the inv formation .sought would he .regarding the weight, load, place of origin, destination, ownership and nature of each vehicle passing the bridge.

A motion was carried instructing the engineer to take a tally at the Ohau Bridge commencing on January 21st, continuing night and day for 14 days and that the following persons be appointed tally keepers, G. Maugham, D. Cole, and C. McLeavey, -with authority to , stop all traffic where necessary to obtain the information required by the Council.