ROADS & BRIDGES

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 52, Issue 3246, 31 March 1943, Page 6

ROADS & BRIDGES

WORK ON THE PENINSULA ENGINEER’S REPORT ACTIVITIES DURING MONTH A full report on work done on the main highways, main roads, and in all ridings was given as follows by the county engineer, Mr A. H. Benham, to the March meeting of the 'Coromandel County Council. The report read as under: — Main Highways

Thames-Coromandel No 600.—This highway was maintenance graded as far as the Otakeao road, whilst proceeding to that job, and the whole length will be again trimmed up by the grader on its return this week. This highway, generally speaking, is being maintained in good order.

Coromandel-Mercury Bay No. 309. —On its way back from Mercury Bay the grader maintenance graded this highway. A further 184 cubic yards of metal was quarried at Egan’s quarry, carted and spread over the rough metal patches between the quarry and Ngapo’s Rock with very good results. The surfaceman and gang have been attending to culvert inlets and outlets, and' further improving the vision iby cutting 'back scrub.

Tapu-Kaimarama No. 485.—Surface maintenance has been carried out on this highway. The contractor for crushing and carting metal has had difficulty with , the portable crusher with the result that only l 42 cubic yards were crushed, carted and spread on the Rangihau to county boundary section./ Coromandel Wharf No. 530.— Maintenance work has been carried out on this highway. Main Roads

Coromandel-Port Jackson. —In connection with the Public Works Department’s work at Port Jackson several bad corners have been improved and parts of the first hill from Port Jackson have been metalled. The department’s machine was also put over the section of this road as far south as Fantail Bay, clearing the narrow siding of boulders and rubble that had weathered down. The surfaceman has erected stone revetments at two washouts between ißig Bay and Otautu. Decking repairs were effected to a small bridge at Waiaro, and the Te Hape fordway had small repairs carried out. The portions of this road which were covered by slips and where the metal was scoured off during the flood have now been metalled, a total of 136 cubic yards were carted and spread over distances of half a mile minimum to five miles maximum for an average cost of 5s 3d per cubic yard. A truck was engaged for a couple of days, carting rubble which had weathered down the batter near Amodeo Bay, 42 cubic yards of which was spread over rough patches between there and 'Coromandel. I propose during the enusing month to scarify the big boulders from the section of this road between the end of the sealing and the hospital, replacing the same with rubble from Egan’s quarry in preparation for sealing. Coromandel-Kennedy’s Bay.—Only one day’s work has been done on this road, attention given to the culverts after the rain on last council meeting day. Coromandel - Whangapoua.—A similar day’s work was done on this road, and arrangements were made for drain clearing at Tererenga. An inspection was made of the Opitonui bridge which showed that to effect any worthwhile repairs would cost between two to three hundred pounds and the remainder of the bridge would not warrant that expenditure. Notices that it is unsafe for heavy traffic were sent out for erection.

Whi f ianga-Kuaotunu.—The grader was tml 'ovei' this road as far as Turner’s *>»H will be returning to complete ' work in this vicinity next

■t .> ftivL’ort Charles.—ArrangemeiiU 'vp "‘‘ide with the settlers *- 0 r , < lions of this road between \ -ik- ».v«n and Port Charles which 1 ’ ' '’t’oii damaged by the weather. L’liis wo k has been completed. . Ridings Coromandel: The g"'g have been engaged in clearing 'he orse, etc., at the cemetery’and repairs to water supply seivices. 'Gorge is being cut on the Hauraki road and some of the footpaths attended to. On receipt of the tractor and angledozer this machine, was used in conjunction with the grader on the Otakeao road* four miles of which by the end of this week will 'have been made wide enough for vehicular traffic. Whitianga.—Moewai road has been reformed with the grader and the length between the bridge and the

end of the road at the slaughterhouse had been metalled with 75 cubic yards of shingle from Kaimarama.. A couple of days’ private work was done by the grader in the Whitianga and Coromandel Ridings.