COUNTY ROADS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 6, Issue 82, 18 June 1943, Page 3

COUNTY ROADS

I I WORK DURING YEAR i • r INKER'S ANNUAL REPORT In Jus aimual report to the Whakatane County Council the ActingEngineer, Mr R. O. Tomldns, stated as undpn— Main Highways Work on main highways has been confined strictly to maintenance works. With the exception of the IWainui Road, sections of which are becoming very narrow as the edges are worn away by stock, the condition of the roads lias been maintained fairly well. As an indication ©„f the difficulty in maintaining their standard however 1 would like to point out that the Main Highways Board prc-Avar total maintenance. allocation of £4075 (Main Highways Board's money only) has been progressiA'ely reduced to last year's figure of £1705, representing a reduction of 58.1 per cent. The implications are that a further reduction will be. made this year. 2548 (1905) cubic yards ol" maintenance metal were spread on highways by contract in addition to some 300 (525) cubic yards sj>read: by County trucks. Approximately 1150 cubic yards of spoil Avere carted in clearing slips and banking.

Public Works Department Grants: No grant moneys for bridge construction or new format. Vm and works were made available last year.

County Main Roads and Riding Roads: In general these roads June Jaeen maintained to- at least tlicir standard and some improvement works have been carried out. One. major work was the Avulening of Ruddick's Road. Some 17.502

cubic yards, by contract and 3320 cubic yards by County and hired vehicles. Including highways the total output of maintenance on all works was 20,350 (20,163) cubic yards. Spoil shifted in various road improvement and maintenance works amounted to 16,400 cubic yards (1170S). ,

After experimenting with various types of broken rock it was decided to open a quarry at Melville's property and some 6000 cubic j*ards of this rock was used instead of river gravel. It appears to be eminently suitable for building up roads as well as providing a good trufl'icable surface.. No new road formation was carried out. liiver protection works were .carried out at Lowe's Road above the Waimana River Bridge. The magnetic truck operated over certain main roads in the County and Avas instrumental in picking up an average of 1)1 bs of puncture causing materials per mile of road. Bridges: The reconstruction of the Titoki Bridge (50ft length) over the Waioho Stream was. carried out, also a 20ft bridge over Grieve's Drain on the liiverslea-Otakiri Road. In addition a smaller bridge on Railway East Road at Iviwinui was rebuilt and the stringers of two small bridges on Onepu and Titoki Roads respectively were renewed. Extensive repairs Avere carried. • out to the Omclicu Bridge on the liiversleaOtakiri Road whereby its reconstruction was postponed for a period. A bottom chord of the Opouriao truss bridge was renewed. The repainting of haiulrails on bridges throughout the. County ~as been carried out as required. Some of the older bridges are eausiaig anxiety. Every endeavour is being made however to effect temporary repairs with a view to

postponing their reconstruction until more favourable times. The recently constructed, concrete bridge over the Wlinkatanc River at Ruatoki was taken over by the council and certain maintenance work will have to be carried out shortly. Authority was. received from the Timber Controller for the use of hardwood, and New Zealand timbers for the construction of a bridge over the Kopuriki Stream on the Te Teko Galatea 'Road. The bridge will be built in the near future. 'The estimated cost is £1500. Plant Due to the uncertainty of being able to procure parts and materials the maintenance of plant is becoming increasingly dill'icult. However the only .serious inconvenience experienced last year was the inability to procure tyres for one of the (liesel planer tractors, which tractor was consequently laid up for some nine Tyres have nowcome to hand. No new vehicles for replacement have been, obtainable so far but by a policy of annual overhaul and anticipating repairs and renewal of wearing parts as far as possible every endeavour is being made to keep council's plant functioning efficiently. The two shovels operated satisfactorily over the past year and ]mt out large tallies, but it is hoped that, profiting by past experience and also availing ourselves of expert, advice, some mistakes will be avoided and, even better results obtained. The question of providing a suitable means of transport for these shovels has been given consideration and it is hoped that a satisfactory trailer will be procured when the tyre position is. easier. The Dennis truck was disposed of during the year.