Mulvay's Corner — 'unforgiving' to unwary

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 2, Issue 9, 31 July 1984, Page 13

Mulvay's Corner — 'unforgiving' to unwary

Members of the public and two invited guests attended the regular Waiouru Community Advisory Committee meeting earlier this month. The two invited members of the meeting were Mr K.Mulvay, resident at Hihitahi Bluffs (more commonly known as Mulvay's corner) and Mr Ray Southee, assistant grading engineer from Wanganui Ministry of Works. Several months ago the Waiouru Community Advisory Committee wrote to Mr Beetham, the then Member of Parliament for Rangitikei electorate (in which Mulvay's Corner is situated) and Mr Bolger, Member of Parliament for King Country (including the Waiouru area). The council expressed its concern, to both members, at the number of serious accidents that have occurred at Mulvay's Corner. Mr Mulvay attended the meeting to put forward his comments and suggested plan for re-alignment of the' corner. Mr Mulvay claimed that the Roads Board have given top priorify to the improvement of the existing section of the road but that the repairs were only 'cosmetic' in effect and did nothing to alleviate the ice problem which was a significant contributing factor in the many accidents occurring in the area. Mr Mulvay went on to explain that the ice problem was greatest when the road received no sun at all (from April to September). During this period it is quite a common occurrence for ice

to form when there were low overnight temperatures after rain had fallen the previous afternoon. When the weather that followed was overcast and windless, the ice then lies on the road and southern faces all day. Mr Mulvay suggested that it would therefore make sense to divert the road by building a deviation across the Hihitahi River which would be to the west of the present road. He felt that the main reason for rejection of his proposal, by the Roads Board was financial (Mr Mulvay's plan has been estimated at approximately 3 million dollars). But Mr Mulvay felt that it was not possible to put a price on life and safety and that no cost was therefore too great. In reply to Mr Mulvay, Mr Ray Southee the Ministry of Works' engineer, defended the Roads Board plans to alter the existing road rather than adopting Mr Mulvay's suggestion and building an expensive deviation. He described the existing corners as 'unforgiving' because motorists were caught unaware by the ice and inconsistent elevation. However, a recently designed technique of creating a retaining wall which reinforced the present curve can now be used alongside the existing road to extend the State Highway to eliminate the 'blind' corner. According to Mr Southee, this should allow the new curve to be approached at a speed of up to 70 km/h.

He claimed that this new 'driver control' of the corner will, in part, be due to the increased visibility, with drivers being able to see the layout of carriageway as the car approaches the left-hand curve. Work on the curves is planned to be done in three stages. The first stage is to take place on the 'in' bend at the southern end of Mulvay's Corner, where the bend will be shifted out toward the river. Stage two is the improvement of the second 'in' bend. This will be shifted 17 Vi metres toward the stream. The reinforced earth wall will be used to support the new section of road,

because it can be built on weak foundations and provides free drainage. At. present drainage is inefficient in this area but reconstruction will improve the vertical and horizontal alignment as well as the drainage. Some time after these major alterations have been completed the Hautapu Bridge will also be upgraded. Mr Southee also went on to explain another of the reasons for realigning of the original highway rather than the building of a deviation. He stated that the Commission for the Environment had expressed great concern at damage to scenic reserves and native plants in the area

proposed by Mr

Mulvay.