HIGHWAYS CONSTRUCTION.

Shannon News, 21 January 1927, Page 3

HIGHWAYS CONSTRUCTION.

COUNTY ENGINEER'S REPORT. The following report on Main Highp ways within the Horowhenua County . was presented to the County Council onSaturday by its engineer (Mr. W. N. j Anderson): — .. No. 1 Highway, j Waikanac-Otaki section.—Good pro- . gress is still being made with the work ; on this section. Two lorries and six drays have been engaged catting spoil for widening from the Hadfiehi pit. The r Railway Department has granted (lie Council permission ' to remove spoil ; from the railway reserve between the Hadfield pit boundary and lino of rails, thus giving the Council access to several thousand additional cubic yards of spoil. The shoulder work, from Otaki bridge to the sand cutting south of Te Horo, has been completed, and a gang is engaged finishing the shoulders near Waikanae. A. large amount of foundation metal has been put out and No. 2 roller has been sent to Tel Horo to consolidate this metal. No. 3 crusher has practically . completed operations at Te Horo and will be shifted back to Waikanae to crush boulders for the paving course. No. 4 crushing plant has been shifted to Hautere and should be ready to start work in about 10 days’ time. This plant lias been set up on Mr. V. Cottle’s property. Very satisfactory arrangements have been made with Mr. Cottle regarding site and working plant. The bitumen gang and plant will start work at Waikanae whenever No. 4 crushing plant , commences work. ( Otaki-Manakau section. —Very good , progress has been made with work on 1 this section. The formation, work on , this section is practically completed s from Manakau bridge to the bottom of Simcox’s hill, and the shoulder work , between Otaki railway crossing and j start of proposed deviation, -is well in hand. Plans and specifications arc completed - for two contracts on proposed j deviation, and tenders can be called j for same at once. It is hoped to start f crushing foundation metal for this sec-* tion at an early date. j! Manakau bridge-Levin section.—The j sealing work on this section was com- t pleted during the period, and I have to v report that the whole of this section t has greatly improved owing to the v warm weather and the heavy holiday c traffic. 6 No. 60 Highway. Levin-Pott’s Creek section. —A start s was made with the paving of this sec- q tion during the period, and excellent -j progress has been made with the work, a three miles having bben completed _ (penetration and sealing). £ Pott’s - Road-Wirokino north bound- j. ary.—The survey of this section is v nearjng completion, and a start -will be made with the plan work within a day or two. „ Shannon-Makerua section.— The plans, specifications, etc., have been approved by the Highways Board, and a g start will be made with the formation and widening of this section early next n week. Makerua-Tokoparu section.— The p plans, etc., of this section are nearing completion and will be forwarded to Wellington for approval at an earlv date. . f Bitumen Plant. —Work with this _ plant commenced the season’s work on £ November 13th, 1926, and to date the bitumen gang has put down 33,0(1 square yards of 4in penetration work ri and 75,000 square yards of sealing. o

One of the drawbacks so far this season, has been the shortage of rollers, and it may be necessary in the near future for the Council to consider the purchase of another heavy roller;

With reference to the Otaki-Manr-kau section of the Main Highways, the chairman (Cr. Monk) said he thought that, before tenders were called for the deviation, an agreement should be arrived at with the owner of the land for the dedication.—lt was accordingly decided to defer the calling of tenders until Cr. Ryder and the engineer have interviewed Mr. D’Ath.