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On the Levin - Palmerston North via Shannon State Highway maintenance sealing was completed for a length of 2 miles 7 chains. Maintenance sealing was completed for 2 miles 4 chains over the Upper HuttWaikanae highway. On the Pahautanui-Plimmerton highway new sealing was completed for a length of 50 chains on the Plimmerton Hill. The first sealing on the recently declared Lower Hutt - Wainuiomata highway was carried out in Wainuiomata Township over a length of 33 chains. Wairarapa District Dustless surfaces comprise only 35 per cent, of the total district mileage, and most counties are pursuing a vigorous sealing programme. The most important work in the district is the completion of the Ruamahanga River Bridge, 217 ft. long, on the main arterial road north of Masterton. The approaches, comprising a deviation 1 mile 37 chains long, will soon be completed, when a through route will be available for heavy traffic from Wellington to Hawke's Bay via the Wairarapa. This has not been possible for several years owing to the load restrictions on the present timber bridge over the Ruamahanga River. Widening and preparation work carried out during the year amounted to 8 miles 58 chains, while 7 miles 78 chains of new sealing and 16 miles 19 chains of resealing were completed. Three bridges totalling 296 ft. in length were built. On the Woodville-Masterton State Highway the Ruamahanga River Bridge at Mount Bruce, consisting of a 112 ft. reinforced-concrete arch and seven 15 ft. spans, was completed. The bridge approaches, comprising a road deviation 1 mile 37 chains long, are well advanced. On the Masterton-Wellington State Highway realignment over a length of 16 chains was completed and tar primed at Platform Farm Corner, the scene of fatal accidents, just north of Greytown. In Carterton Borough new concrete kerbing and channelling were completed for a length of 68 chains, and the existing sealing was widened to the kerbs over a length of 75 chains. Maintenance sealing on the Rimutaka Hill and in Greytown Borough was completed for 2 miles 48 chains. A bridge of 40 ft. span at 1-5 miles on the Mauriceville-Hastwell highway was completed. The Eketahuna-Nireaha highway was improved by the reconstruction and metalling of a length of 1 mile 3 chains, while in the Eketahuna Borough new footpath sealing was completed for 38 chains. In the Eketahuna County, on the Pah Valley highway, stream improvements were completed for 1 mile 22 chains to alleviate flooding of the highway. Reconstruction and metalling were completed for a length of 2 miles 16 chains on the Chester highway. On the Masterton-Weber highway a bridge at 23-75 miles was renewed by a 35 ft. concrete span, while at Thomas's Slip Deviation, 1 mile 14 chains long, in Akitio County, base-course metalling was completed. Reconstruction is in hand from 0 m. to 1 m. in the Pahiatua County on the PahiatuaAkitio highway, and formation is 40 per cent, completed. Extensive improvements are proceeding on the Masterton-Castlepoint highway. In the Masterton County, on reconstruction between 7 m. 26 ch. and 10 m. 26 ch., formation is 80 per cent, completed, while between 10 m. 76 ch. and 13 m. 45 ch. reconstruction has been completed except for top-course metalling. In Castlepoint County a contract has been commenced for reconstruction between 22 m. 40 ch. and 23 m. 67 ch. On the Masterton-Stronvar highway new sealing was completed for 2 miles 39 chains on a reconstructed section completed the previous year. Between Bm. 28 ch. and 10 m. 4 ch. reconstruction is in hand and formation is 40 per cent, completed.

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