ROAD IMPROVEMENT

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 2, 28 September 1920, Page 8

ROAD IMPROVEMENT

IN AVAIIURAPA. COUNTY. (From Our Own Correspondents.) Carterton, September 27. 'Clio Wairnvapa South County Council has decided to carry out a road improvement scheme, of n per,-iianent nature, which will embrace tlv main road of the countv between (ho Wiiiohme and "V\"aii>p«wu bridges, a distance of s:bc and three-quarter miles. ' This is providing the moM.y can bo obtained, and the loan receives the suuctiou of tho ratepayers. The stretcli to be laid down will tako ill tho portion of the main road between Jfasterton and Carterton, which has of late become notorious for its rough condition- .., . Mr. Laing Meason, civil engineer, was eugaged by the coimcil in July to preparo a report upon Hie roadway, and on Saturday submitted comprehensive recommendations, which were agreed to, with a slight addition in the wrath to be laid down. . The engineer stated that ho had given much consideration to tho question of which system of construction shouW.be adopted, and lie had formed a confident opinion that the method known is tor or bitumen macadam was better than t.ho penetration method. All recognised authorities were now agreed that tlio method in which stone and binding wore mixed and incorporated together was better and more lasting than the ono wJnoh depended upon-penetration. Tho council already possesses an efficient stone-crusher, elevator, and screw combined, and has on order a powerdriven road roller. In addition to tho foregoing, a, hot-mixer and a portaolo boiler are required. The total cost of the new plant will be .£3500. The summary of estimates is as follows :—470 chains, 18ft. wide, at J&i '9s. 7d. a chain. JM.MS; 70 chains, 20ft., at .1*27 -4s. a chain, .£1901; a<ldit:bi»l items, JJUGB; contingencies, ,£744; total construe Hon cost, .815,621; machinery, .£3500; engineering and clerk of works. .£1200; Inst •vear's rates, .£1016; grand total, .£21,33;. The engineer considers that the above estimates will not. bo exceeded, ami may possibly bo considerably less. .... The engineer further reported that his investigations had . convinced him that any cheaper method of construction would not, in the long run, prove.satisfuctorv or economical. The long experience and exhaustive experiments of engineers in Britain, tho United States, and more recently in this counlry, confirmed him in his opinion. The engineer considered that the design of wad submitted, tho system of, construction advocated, and the materials suggested would provide tho users with a first-class and permanent road, and tho ratepayers would bo subject to a minimum rate of upkeep. The council decided, in adopting the report, that the whole length be made 20ft. wide, also to place the cost of two motor lorries on the estimates, which were increased thereby to ,£23,446.