CONCRETE ROADS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1685, 13 March 1917, Page 3

CONCRETE ROADS.

KURORT IJY COUNTY F.NGIN FUR. Tin- iiccr to th<‘ Manawalu County Council reported to 1 uesdny's meeting ns follows: During last month I at tended the minimi conference of the N.Z. Society of Civil Engineers at Wellington, when engineers were present from all parts of the Dominion. After the ordinary 'easiness of the Society was concluded, a number of papers with plans attached were read and discussed on various engineering works, the most valuable paper being JMr Patterson's on “Concrete Roads," and by the number of questions put to Mr Patterson and the discussion that, followed upon 1 lie paper, it is evident Unit permanent roads are being seriously considered by engineers throughout the Dominion. We were shown over several streets that have been put down in concrete, and also concrete works in the course of construction, which costs from os 4d to Ss -ti per square yard. This includes (he breaking up id' the old macadamised mad and excavation work for tin 1 concrete foundation. However, the cost of putting concrete mail down at the above rail 1 is at present out of reach of County Councils, in the United Stales of America they put down miles of concrete road every year, and it is very much cheaper, costing only about -Is per square yard, and apparently the traffic is running on the concrete surface without any tar or bitumen wearing surface. We may lake over main roads between the Rangitikei and Oroua rivers and put a concrete road down along this length of road at, the rale of 4s per square yard. It would cost approximately £3,000 per mile, or a, total cost of £33,000 for that length of road. It seems to me that it does not matter what type of road is put down —and ordinary macadamised road or concrete road —it is the wearing surface for the present day traffic that will have to be provided for. This last two years we have spent about £OOO eaeli year to maintain the surface of the road above mentioned, ami this amount is likely to increase year by year. It seems to me whether concrete or other modern roads are put down each road must be provided with a wearing surface that: can lie renewed at a minimum cost. However, a strong committee of experts have been appointed to go into the matter of concrete and other modern roads, and to report at the next annua! conference, when it is hoped a decision will be arrived at as to standard and practice for various classes of roads will be laid down.