BOROUGH STREETS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5207, 23 November 1927, Page 2

BOROUGH STREETS.

ACTIVITIES OF COUNCIL. FOUR MILES OF BITUMEN WORK. Steady progress is being made with tlie reconstruction of upper Normanby Road and Waihi Road. The work has been completed from the borough boundary near Mr Buchanan’s homestead gate to below the interse’etion of Thorp Street. At the intersection of Cassrels, Victoria, and Fraser Streets and Normanby and Te Aroha Roads big alterations are at present being made. A large drain has been constructed from Normanby Road to the river which will provide badly needed drainage for storm-water in that locality.

With the construction of the approach to the new traffic bridge it has been necessary to change the entrance from Normanby R°ad into Fraser Street, and in future traffic will enter that street by a new crossing off Normanby Road in front of the Public Works Department’s office. Before the approach to the new bridge is commenced it will also be necessary to make some alteration to the existing water-mains, and this work will be undejrtaken while the reconstruction of the street is in progress.

Already a transformation scene is apparent in this locality. The lowlying ground in front of the transformer and across the road on the Opposite side has been filled in with spawls, rolled to consolidation, and brought to a leivel with the road proper, which has also been raised and graded. A large gang of men is at work under the able supervision of the Mayor (Mr W. Marshall), and Hie work is being pushed on with the utmost despatch and with a minimum of inconvenience to traffic.

THE BITUMINISING WORK. Thq work of bituminising the main highways in the borough is to be proceeded with as soon as the weather becomes more settled. An idea of the big task ahead can be gauged when It is that there are nearly four miles of streets to be bitumen treated, and the, whole of this work is to be carried out during the present summer if possible. In order that the work may be, pushed on with the least possible delay, and as economically as possible, the Borough Council has purchased a new pre-heater machine for boiling bitumen. This machine, which is an improvement on t.ne old bitumen boiler, was ordered from a Christchurch firm on Thursday, November 10. On arrival ex-steamer at Wellington on the following Monday it was railed to Paeroa, and reached here on Wednesday morning. Once the workmen become familiar with working the two machines the Mayor is of the opinion that approximately 440 yards of bituminising and dressing will be done each day. In all probability a start will be made in either Moore Road or Thames Road, and on completion Puke, Normanby, and Waihi roads will be similarly treated. On Monday afternoon the auxiliary scow Tuhoe arrived at the Ngahina wharf from Auckland with a load of 145 tons of bitumen for the Borough Council. The successful for the cartage of the bitumen were Messrs Brenan and Co., which firm has made a start with the distribution of,the material to definite vantage points throughout the borough.

Never before in the history of Paeroa has there been such activity m regard to street improvements. It has taken considerable courage and resourcefulness on the part of the Mayor and his colleagues on the council to institute the -important works, and few people realise the time, thought, and scheming that has been given iii endeavouring to grapple with the problem of providing suitable thoroughfares for the ever-increasing fast-moving and heavy motor traffic. The only solution to the difficulty appears to be in the putting Sown of roads that have been made impervious to water. In the past macadam roads, no matter how well they were constructed, have not stood up to the traffic, and the maintenance costs have been enormous. There is little doubt, that the system now in operation in the borough, that of bituminising the streets after suitable foundations have been provided, will not only reduce the annual maintenance charges very considerably, but will be the means of providing streets of a more or less permanent nature, and such that burgesses will be proud of and also cause visitors to Paeroa to express their commendation.