CONCRETE ROADS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1797, 5 March 1918, Page 1

CONCRETE ROADS.

Anent concrete roads, strongly advocated for several years past by the writer in consequence of tho changed traffic conditions, the following report was made by the Concrete Roads Committee at the annual conference of the New Zealand Society of Civil Engineers: — - “Your committee views with regret the fact that local .authorities in this country have not been able to adopt this (concrete) class of road construction to such an ex- 1 lent'as to give its members an opportunity to gain actual experience'bn which to base a standard specification. The basic principles' of concrete road construction were all covered in the paper, and the discussion thereon, at last year’s annual meeting. In view of the fadj that the literature on the subject is available to all engineers interested either in magazines or text books, your committee considers that their duties should be on the lines of collecting and reporting on actual construction done in this country. During the last twelve months this has been of a very limited amount. The Wellington City Council laid 1,830 square yards of concrete road in Blair Street at a cost of 7s 44d per square yard, including surfacing. This construction was a, two course work, six inches thick, top dressed with tar and sand, with expansion joints every 30 feet. Tho lower course was of 5 to 1 bank run gravel, upper course 3i to 1 fine pea gravel and cement, screened to uniform section and floated. Wanganui Borough has laid 300 yards of concrete road on'Taupo Quay, live inches thick of washed gravel concrete in the proportions 3,2, and 1, single course work, finished as above, but not tarred. This cost Os lOd per square yard, and after being under traffic for eight months has been carpeted with If inches of fine tar macadam and sealed with a tar compound, making the total cost 9s 3d per square yard. Home few hundred yards, it is understood, have bden laid in Napier, and a considerable area in Auckland, but regarding these no data is to hand. These areas and those previously laid have not been down long enough to warrant any expression of opinion for or against this method of construction, nor can the maintenance costs be definitely ascertained for the same reason; but: your committee, is unanimously of opinion that carpeting in some form is necessary. This carpeting, or protective coat, should be as thin as possible, and of the most indestructible material obtainable. Tho extent of these areas is insignificant in comparison with those under con struction in America, where the results vjutye evidently encouraged the engineers and local bodies to adopt concrete road construction so extensively. The high proportion of motor traffic in that country demands a good, clean, smooth surface, Engineers in this country recognise that the time has arrived when similar improvements must be carried out here, and that such will tend ’to economy, both to local bodies interested and also to road users. The demand has not yet been made to a sufficient extent to influence public opinion in this direction, but the time is rapidly approaching when local bodies will have to take steps to meet the position. Owing to the growing importance of road construction, your committee recommends that a permanent elective Roads Commitieo be set up to collect and tabulate (lata, and report annually to the society at the general meeting.” The report was adopted.