SEALING RED ROADS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5175, 7 September 1927, Page 2

SEALING RED ROADS.

A PLAINS EXPERIMENT. EASILY APPLIED BITUMEN. In order to test the efficiency on the red roads of the Hauraki Plains of a bitumen preparation which is ap- ” plied without heating and which has proved satisfactory when used on ordinary blue metal roads, a series of experiments, are now being conducted by the Plains County engineer, Mr F. Basham. Four small stretches of road in tihe Netherton, Horahia, and Ngatea ridings have been treated during the last few days and will be observed in conjunction with the adjacent portions, of the road. Should the surface metal be held together as is claimed and as happens with blue metal roads, the preparation will probably be widely used within the county. The preparation costs about the same as ordinary bitumen, but it can be laid at a fraction of the cost, and at any time All that is necessary is that the dust be swept off the surface and the preparation poured on, evenly spread | with a broom, and covered with chips. No heating is required, for the bitumen is, mixed with a flux which keeps it in a liquid state. After being spread On a road, or otherwise exposed to the air, the flux evaporates, leaving the pure bitumen. Unlike the bitumen which requires heating, this preparation is not affected by dust or water —in fact, it is an advantage to have the road surface 'S wet to assist penetration. The preparation is the product of a wellknown British oil company, and is widely used in England. An experiment is also to be made to demonstrate the effect of Coldflx on roads already bltu.men-sealed. Itis thought that this will be satisfactory, and will greatly facilitate maintenance.