LEVIN-FOXTON MAIN HIGHWAY

Shannon News, 6 September 1929, Page 2

LEVIN-FOXTON MAIN HIGHWAY

DISCUSSED BY HIGHWAYS BOARD RAISING ROAD TOO"' COSTLY. At the last meeting of the Foxton . Chamber of Commerce ,it was decided to urge upon the Main Highways Board the urgent necessity for sQam

steps to be taken, to protect that portion of the Wellington-Auckland highway between Levin and Foxton known as the Wirokino road from the periodical flooding it is -at present subjected to. The Chamber suggested that the .Main'Highways Board should give acnsidv J, "ts«n...tn the_.quGS.tioj) .^at _rnis-_ iug the road three feet which, it was considered, would make it safe for all time. Copy of the Chamber's letter was forwarded to the various local bodies concerned and at. Thursday night's meeting of the Chamber replies were received from the Wellington and Alanawatu Automobile Clubs,,and the Levin Chamber of Commerce endorsing the Chamber's move* and offering t> co-operate in any way possible to have* the work cr-tried out. The Palmers ton North Chamlur asked for further details.

WOULD COST £31,000

A letter was received, however, from Mr P. W. Purkcrt, chairman of the Main Highways Board, which read as follows:—

"With reference to your letter of the 2fifh ult.. in which your Chamber ;tres\cs Lie urgency of dealing with that section of the Auckland-Wellington main highway betAreen Wirokino Bridge and Poxton which is frequently affected by floods, I have ttf inform. you that a preliminary investigation has been made with a vieAV to ascertaining the practicability and the estimated cost of the proposal of your Chamber to raise the road by three feet. •»

"The problem is a very difficult one on account of the fact that there is a great deal of uncertainty in eonnec-. rtion with the flood control ■ schemes which are being considered for the district. Tlie nature and locality of such schemes undoubtedly will have a very important bearing on the question of making the highway passable at all , times.

"An approximate estimate to raise the road three feet and to provide a large iiood cpening which would be necessary if the road were raised is £31,000.

"This estimate would not include provision for a bitumenised surface.

"The whole matter was considered by the Main Highways' Board at its last meeting on the 21st inst., when it was decided -to inform your Chamber that tha Board, in view of the circumstances, could not embark on such a costly scheme at present."

Mr G. Barber considered it would be, a very dangerous thing to build the road up in tlu locality mentioned. The pressure that would be brought to bear "ii the embankment in flood time would be enormous and no bank would stand it. There had been an. instance of this on Mr P. Easton's property quite recently. The Kuri Kuri stream had been banked similarly and three times the bridge aud bank had been washed awav.

The letter was received and discussion on the subject lapsed.