WHIROKINO ROAD FLOODS.

Shannon News, 27 November 1928, Page 2

WHIROKINO ROAD FLOODS.

PROBLEM PUT BEFORE HIGHWAYS BOARD.

MANAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL CHAIRMAN’S ACTION.

The Whiroltino road has for a long time past been a constant source of worry to the Manawatu County Council and its chairman (Mr W. E. Barber) has spent much time and trouble inspecting this highway and. devising wavs and means of overcoming the flood nuisance, Mr Barber has, just returned from a trip ‘to Wellington, where he interviewed the engineers of -the Main Highways Board in connection with the Whirokino road. In coueersation with a “Herald” representative Mr Barber said the maiii trouble to-day appeared to bo that once the Moutoa and Whirokino districts were flooded the Government drain was,the only outlet to 10,000 acres of pent up flood water, held in confinement by the’ flood banks. This water, with such a small outlet, naturally took a long time to get away and the Whirokino road, being nearest the outlet, was under water for lengthy periods, even with a comparatively light flood, i Mr Barber said ho had been greatly perturbed over the extent of the submersion of this road during the recent flood, particularly so, when on making an inspection of the. flooded area a sheep was discovered caught on the top rail of the gravel pit bridge, an evidence of the height the water reached in that locality. Mr Barber informed the reporter that he had pointed out the seriousness of the position to the Main Highways Board engineers while in Wellington and had placed before them a suggestion that -the Manawatu County Council and the Highways Board should combine, and, with some little assistance from the Moutoa Drainage Board do something to reduce by at least 50 ,per cent., the time the flood water lies on the road. The idea was to do something that would immediately alleviate the flood menace. The road would have to. be lifted seven feet before it' would be safe from flooding; but this, Mr Barber did not consider a wise thing to do. The best thing to do in the meantime, he considered, was. to have fairly big openings, with flood gates, made in the western banks. During the last flood the Moutoa Drainage Board had consented to the- cutting of their banks to allow the water -to escape, but this sort of thing was a costly business. The existing drain was far too small to cope with all the water. The Highways Board will give consideration to the scheme advanced by Mr Barber and also to the bringing of certain low-lying sections of the road up to a level that would not scour. ''

Mr Barber said that while the flood was over the Whirokino, but not sufficient to prevent traffic, great 'difficulty had/A>een experienced by those using the highway in passing other vehicles while negotiating the flooded area. Passing places at intervals along the road were urgently required and this matter was also receiving his attention and he hoped in a short time to have passing places made on each straight so that the road would not be for “ one way’ ’ traffic only when covered by water. “The Council has not forgotten the urgency of having something done in the Whirokino,” said Mr Barber, “but there are many difficulties to be contended with which are sometimes unknown to the general public. The Manawatu County Council is very much alive to the position and will press the matter on with all urgency.”