GREAT LINK ROAD

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 110, 30 July 1927, Page 10

GREAT LINK ROAD

WAIMANA TO WAIROA Good work has been done by the Public Works Department in the construction of the road from Waimana to Wairoa. The sum expended to date is £70,000, and it is expected that another £30,000 will be required to complete the road from the Bay of Plenty to Hawke’s Bay. Twenty-one miles of motor-road have been completed to Tawhana, which is 25 miles south of Waimana. Many tine hardwood bridges, mounted on concrete foundations, have been built, carrying the road twice, over the main river and over several large side-streams. Between Tawhana and Maungapohatu, a distance of 13 miles, the earth-work on a six-foot track has been done and now requires a widening out and culverting. The distance to the Wairoa road from Maungapohatu is 16 miles, and has not yet been started. The uncompleted section has no streams to be bridged, and should present no great difficulty to the engineers.

A recent survey of this route shows that it is 95 miles shorter than any other existing line of road. The average grade is only 1 in 100. and should present no difficulty to motorists when the road is completed. The lake scenery on this route is claimed to be unequalled in the North Island, and the route in days to come should be a very popular drive for tourists. It is understood that the power line from Waikaremoana to connect with Arapuni will be taken over the route of this road.