THE CITY STREETS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8345, 4 February 1913, Page 10

THE CITY STREETS

SURFACE IMPROVEMENTS. INVESTIGATIONS MADE BY CITY ENGINEER. Investigations as to the best methods of street construction in important thoroughfares, which are yet not main arteries for traffic, have been conducted in Wellington for some time past by the city engineer, Mr AY. H. Morton. The object has been to ascertain which is the best surface for use in what are termed the secondary streets, that is, those where the traffic is not heavy enough to warrant the great expenditure involved in wood blocking, but which at the same time require to be maintained in really good order. Mr Morton will report upon his investigations of the finance committee of the City Council this afternoon when he will also submit a series of recommendations designed to secure general improvement in street construction. In all probability the committee will send the report with recommendations on to the City Council on Thursday night. It is understood that the city engineer strongly recommends the use of tarred macadam for all secondary streets. The initial expenditure on laying a road surface in this material is fairly heavy, and the plant required to do it extensively would be an expensive item, but the subsequent cost of maintenance is very small. A portion of Grey street was laid in tarred macadam some time ago for experimental purposes, and it has worn remarkably well under heavy traffic. With the use of wood blocks in all main thoroughfares and tarred macadam in the .secondary streets, a long step would be taken in coping with the dust nuisance, as water-bound macadam would then only be used in residential streets where the vehicular traffic is comparatively light.