ROAD PAVING.

Hutt News, Volume 2, Issue 35, 6 February 1930, Page 10

ROAD PAVING.

TAJTA UORGE AND HUTT'BRIDGE

APPROACHES

CITY COUNCIL TO DO WORK

JACKSON, STREET SURFACE

Information was given to members of the Wellington City anoi Suburban Highways Board" last week respecting the tenders for the" paving; of the road through the Taita Gorge- and also the approaches to the new Hutt bridge. Four tenders were, received, though all did not comply with the specifications, one being for a heavy .concrete road, and another for a road- with a Sunderland base (metal and concrete rolled out after the spread and then cushioned with bitumen). As it was, found that the estimate,of the city- engineer for a 3i-ineh bituminous concrete'road was below thelowest tender, from a private firm, the board decided that, subject to the approval of the.Main-Highways Board, the work should be, carried out by the City

Corporation.

The City Engineer's estimates for the w.ork were:—No. 1 (Hutt bridge approaches):; ?£705;~ Taita Gorge road £5852. - ■ " '■"/,._ ,

Sir Alexander Roberts expressed the nope that there would be no delay in commencing the work. • ,-

The chairman (Mr 6j A. Troup) said

that it was. essential that there should be no delay, as the work should be done thja season. He" asked the city engineer to accelerate the matter.

A BUMPY ROAD. ,! , The paving of Jaeksori Street, Petone,

so freely commented ,on of late, came before the board, when a letter was received from the Petone Borough Council, asking what the cost would be for the board, to pavtf Jackson; Street (from

thjes Hutt road to Fitzherbert Street) in

bituminous concrete ~ (including foundar * tions), and inquiring whether the council could pay for the work on',a yearly basis. -~-

The chairman (Mr G. A. Troup) said he did not .think > the board should be called on to supply details of cost. The best plan would be for Petone to call for tenders^ allowing the city engineer to put in,an estimate. He did not think the board could take over the obligation and allow the Petone Council to pay on the terms suggested. . Mr D. McKenzie* thought fthat , the board could carry, out the very -ably and if. the board could lielp them it would be greatly He thought that .the payment for the Work could be made on the same lines as the work already done in the' borougli by the board. Mr D, iR.. Hoggard suggested, that. Petone might be able, to get the work.done reasonably if allowed the xise of the plant. :..•■' ' ; . The chairman said'that they could not do the work without raising, a loan, and they wcmld not do that. . Mr McKenzie. raised the point that, Jackson Street was a main- highway, but It was at once pointed out .hat such was not the case, the highways being the Esplanade and the Main Hutt Road, both of which roads were paved under the aegis of the boaTd.

Mr E. McKeen, M.P., wished to. know the difference between the board and the

Petone Borough Council raising a loan.

Mr B. G. H. Burn, said, in lighter - mood, that if the council wanted a loan it would have to go to the ratepayers, but if it got the work financed through the board the ratepayers would know nothing about it. (Laughter).

It was decided that if Petone wished it could have ; the use of the, bitumen plant on reasonable terms.

"WIDENING OF HUTT ROAD-STRIP.

The matter of wictening the bitumen track on. the Hutt Road between Wellington and Petone was^ mentioned by Mx G. MitcheU, who said that. he \ did hope that'something would be done in that direction before the bqatd went out

of existence: There had been an increase" an the traffic on the road far greater,, than was ever anticipated, and it was becoming imperative that they should widen the track. If it were not done now it would-be delayed for a number of

years. •

The chairman: We have a motion in our records that the track be not widens

Mr E. A. Whight> M.P.: This is a contentious subject.

The chairman: There is a great differ-

enc,e of opinion. Experts differ as to whether a wider roadi does or does not 'create a danger from accident.

Mi- D. Mcl\enzie said it would be. wasteful evxtravagance to spend some £18,000 on widening the five miles of track between Wellington and Petone. The track was now 20ft in width; if it were made 40ft they would have all manner of *f cutting in, 7* and accidents arising from it, as many motorists could not be controlled. The money would be better spent in. paving other roads in the district. The widening of the track was not necessary at present.

SEAVTEW ROAD.

Sir Alexander. Roberts mentioned that he hbped the board would take over Seaview Road in place of Park Road.

The chairman contended/that the Seaview road proposal was one for the Main Highways Board. "

It was decided that that and other paving proposals be placed .before the Main Highways Board, with estimates of copt, in view of a'decision, .as to what works, might be put in hand this year;

On the motion of Mr D. ft. Hoggard a report as to the boaTd *s unexhausted loan authority is to be prepared! by the. city treasurer and city engineer for the nest meeting of the board.- •■•■;. Mrf;j?L. J. Patterson said there should also be a report On the widening of the Hutt Road. In his view the extension and protection of the haunches of ihe track, in view of the increase: in traffle and weight of vehicles, was -of paramount importance. ' ■