THE HIGHWAYS.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 March 1925, Page 4

THE HIGHWAYS.

NEW OFFICIAL MAR

STANDARD ROAD PLANS

WELLINGTON, March 14

The Alain Highways Board has published on two large sheets maps of the whole of the main highways of the Dominion. together with a good deal of important data such as corrected distances between important points.

From these maps it is possible to get very comprehensive view of the mag-

tude of the Hoard’s policy touching

main highways alone. The maps do not show secondary roads, hut the main highways alone cover the Dominion very thoroughly, and provide line arteries for travel, when they can he brought up to the standard at which the Board is aiming.

In the North Island there are eighty sepia rate highways which have been declared main highways. They run through many different highway districts, hut a road retains its individual number. The prinicipnl arterial road from north to south. No. L starts at Waipapakauri, in the far North of Auckland, proceeds through Auckland, thence Hamilton, To Kuiti, New Plymouth, and down the West Const to Wellington, a total distance of 680 miles. Another long route on the map is from l’okeno to Wellington via Gisborne and the Wairarapa—3sl miles. The map discloses that there aio II miles of road in Taranaki district which are subject to toll gate restriction. These roads are not officially main highways, but they are important connecting links.

■Road No 101 is the big feature of the South Island map. It runs from Picton through Blenheim, Kaikoura, Christchurch. Tim urn, Oamaru, Dunedin, Gore, and Kdendale to Invercargill, and has a length of 027 miles. Other long-distance main routes shown are Blenheim-Waiho 385 miles, l pper l’ic-earton-Kuinara 133 miles, and Palmei s-ton-Queenstown via lleeks l->> miles. STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS. Another activity of the Highway Board is the circulation among local authorities of standard specifications for road surfaces and formation. The engineering data is very etnclulK framed, and includes specifications for sub-grade for pavements, specifications for gravelled roads, two-course waterbound macadam, tar or bituminous surface for water-bound roads, bituminous concrete roads, and Portland cement roads. It is pointed out that these specifications are not to he lolloped strictly, and that they should he modified unless an economic investigation discloses that the standard proposed is justified, and that it will result in a saving to the community. A sample set of special weighing instruments which can he used on the road to check the weight of heavy ve-

hicles has been imported by the Highways Board. These will enable inspectors to jack up the wheels of a vehicle 111 the road, and read oil' the actual

weight carried oil each wheel. Local authorities will have an opportunity of learning more about (his appliance when thev continence to administer the heavy traffic regulations. It is hoped, in course ol time, .is ,-oad direction signs are renewed, and new ones are installed, to standardise all such signs throughout New Zealand. \ standard set of specifications for this purpose will he sent to all highway authorities in New Zealand.