High Speed Highway

The new Wharerata highway, the last of the major roading projects undertaken in the district, will be a dream come true for thousands of motorists, connecting "isolated" Gisborne with the south by one of the most modern and fastest hill-country highways in the Dominion.

Making its predecessor look like a goat-track, the new road is a beautiful example of modern road - building techniques, with its fast straights and sweeping curves climbing through deep cuttings and over steep hillsides.

Cut from the Whareratas by the giant machines of four different contractors, the road is well towards completion, with more than half of its mileage in use at present.

The last section of the project, at Tarawera, is now under construction, and follows a completely new line to the present road.

Following the forming of the new road, the Ministry of Works lays a foundation of soil-cement, which is then covered with bitumin sealing.