NORMANBY ROAD.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5147, 4 July 1927, Page 3

NORMANBY ROAD.

SERIOUS STATE OF DISREPAIR. ''proposal to improve surface, It is many years since erne pf Paeroa’s main streets, Normanby Road, has been in such fi. state of disrepair. In March last all the pot-holes, and undulations were filled withmetal and well blinded. Unfortunately, the work had no sooner been completed when the street had to bear an abnormal amount of motor traffic due to the annual race meeting at Paeroa. In addition several days’- heavy rain prevailed, with the result that the metal was loosened by the weather and then scattered in all directions by the fastmoving vehicular traffic. With the advent of the winter the surface conditions on the road rapidly became worse, until now, after a few hours’ rain a, quagmire exists, and the many pot-holes have- become several inches deep. In addition to the inconvenience and discomfort of vehicular traffic, the holes full of water and the mud that has, abounded have been a serious menace to pedestrians who have had to’ cross the road almost at any point in its entire length. Splashes of slush on clothing as a motor vehicle went past have caused more than one person to feel disgruntled, In fairness to the Borough Council it is only right to state that the maintenance of tfiis thoroughfare has. been delayed on account of the decision to create a special rating area, for the purpose of laying the road down in a permanent manner. However the time has come when something inust be done immediately if the rhad is to be saved from breaking up. At the special meeting of the Borough Coouncil on Saturday night the matter was discussed, and it was resolved to rescind a previous resolution with regard to the expenditure of the balance of the existing street improvements loan money and to authorise the Scarifying of Normanby Road from Belmont Road, Princes Street to Queen Street intersection, and up ta Victoria Street (Bank of New Zealand corner), the streets to afterwards receive a dressing of fine metal and sealed with a surface dressing of bitumen, subject to the expenditure not exceeding £lB5O. In support of the resolution the Mayor said that from soundings taken it was found that the road had consolidated, and varying depths of good metal existed. While in 'Wellington life condition pf the street had been explained by the Engineer-in-Chief, Public Works Department, and the opinion was given that it was not advisable to seal coat by the penetration method at the present time. The street would stand scarifying to a depth of several inches, and when dressed with fines surfacecoated with bitumen, a satisfactory wearing surface should result. By carrying out the work as suggested it woud be a comparatively easy mat; fter to apply the bitumen penetration method in the summer when a permanent surface should result. It was agreed to put the work inhand at the earliest possible moment.