A DANGEROUS ROAD

Taupo Times, Volume II, Issue 81, 5 August 1953, Page 4

A DANGEROUS ROAD

Sir, May I ask your help to right a wrong. The reference is to the bit of stupid road-way between the Waikato Dam and our Main Street. Death is lurking there, and his javelin thrusts are sure, nor will he always brook contempt. Obviously the pace into the dip on to either side of the dam is what anyone can or cares to make it. To see, among others, little school girls, scudding round these bends into obscured traffic is a gruesome sight. Mr Story has done fine work for his town. but I make bold to say that he and his colleagues have dallied overlong in correcting this entrance to Taupo., The job as such is inconsiderable, and one can only feel that if the matter were referred to the right officials in the Works Department, they would, with their fine mechanical equipment, right merrily throw the offending bluff in a matter of a few hours to just where it helongs, and that is atop of the mass or mess of blackberry and tree stumps on the Department's own door-step. I am, etc., Taupo, 25/7/53 R.M. [Note. — Mr J. E. Story, Chairman, Taupo Town Board, to whom the Times referred the above letter, states that the reference is to the bend in the tar-sealed road, with a high bank or bluff on the right-hand side going from the town, between the turn-off to the old Orchard Motor Carnp and Ministry of Works Depot, and the Dam. At this spot the sealed road-way is right over to the southern (left-hand, going from the town) side of the surveyed road. The control of this road lies not with the Town Board but with the Main Highways authorities. Mr Story states that the need for putting the formed highway in the centre of the surveyed road, so that the bend would be straightened and the visibility improved, was brought before the Public Works Department some years ago by the then Taupo Road Board. The Department aetually acquired some land on the northern side of the road> for the

i purpose of straightening the bend, but nothing was done. Later, the matter was brought before the Public Works Engineer then stationed in Rotorua, who replied that no money was available for the work. which he estimated would cost about a thousand pounds. Mr Story, who was then on the Works Committee of the Board, consulted Mr Nansen, engineqr for Messrs Downer and Co., contractors for the Dam, whose opinion was that the road could be straightened with the earth-moving machinery his firm had in use in little more than half a day. Despite the representations that had been made, the sealing of the roadway was later carried out by the Department without the bend being straightened. The mechanical equipment of the Ministery of Works, could, as "R.M." suggests, easily carry out the suggested improvement, but Departmental officials cannot do this until money has been allocated for the work. Mr Story , states that representations have been made following the sealing of the road, and that the Town Board intends to continue effoiHs to have the suggested improvement carried out.]