PROGRESS OF HIGHWAYS.

Shannon News, 14 June 1929, Page 3

PROGRESS OF HIGHWAYS.

LIMITATIONS REGARDING SECONDARY ROADS.

BOARD INTERESTED IN DANGEROUS CORNERS ON SHANNON ROUTE.

TENDERS TO BE CALLED FOR NEW

IWAIKAWA BRIDGE.

Application schedules for maintenance and construction in connection with the Main Highways estimates for 1929-30 were received by the Horowhenua County Council on Saturday, returnable to the Public Works Department not later than June 15th. The District Engineer (Mr Ronayne) in an accompanying circular letter, asked the Council to note that only those construction works for which the Council could make financial provision during the year ending March 31st, 1930, and which could be classified as urgent, should be included, aiid the relative urgency of works must be shown in each case. Brief comments should be made no each construction item, more especially in the case of bridges which required renewal. The Council was also asked to include in schedules any unexpended balances of construction or sealing authorities which required to be re-voted.

“As was the case last year,” the letter continued, “the Board will make a limited amount available for construction purposes on secondary highways, but expenditure will be limited to the class of work for which the Public Works Department might have provided money if these roads had not been declared highways.’’ With regard to maintenance estimating, the District Engineer mentioned that, in last year’s circular on the subject, attention was drawn to the fact that the estimates supplied in many cases in the previous year had proved to be very wide of the mark. He regretted to state that the estimates supplied for the financial year 1928-29 were no better, and in several cases which came before the Board, the expenditure was from 300 to 400 per cent, greater than the estimate. The attention of local authorities was now specially directed to the desirability of more accurate estimating; also, maintenance was not to be held up pending the approval of these estimates, but was to be carried on in the meantime and, claims were to be forwarded for payment as usual.

In connection with tar or bitumen sealing (which is subsidised out of maintenance), the Council was asked to note that applications for new sealing, whether first or second coat work, must be made separate from ordinary maintenance applications. Repairs to existing sealing where there were two or more coats were to be included in the estimate for ordinary maintenance.

The District Engineer added that, with regard to the construction of, and preferential subsidy for high-class pavements radial to centres of population of more than 6000 inhabitants, a five-year programme of work was approved by the Board last year. An amount was available this year for this class of work, but the Board advised that new items not included m tlie/approved programme could not bo subsidised on a preferential basis. The Council was asked by the District Engineer to include in its schedule the estimates for maintenance and construction which the Council was carrying out on No. 1 Highway in Otaki Borough.

The correspondence was referred to the County Engineer (Mr Brewster). QUESTION OF WORKING Lengths.

In a further circular letter, the Dis ; trief Engineer stated that a complaint was recently received by the Highways Board that in certain instances counties, in carrying out rc-construc-tion work, were extending operations over a longer stretch of road than could be reasonably handled, and the result was considerable inconvenience to traffic. The Board requested that where possible the ivork should be concentrated, so that as little inconvenience as possible would be caused to the travelling - public. .• • The Chairman (Mr Monk) said he did not think the circular letter implied that this Council had been to blame in this matter in any way. The communication was referred to the County Engineer. SPEEDING-UP FINANCE.

“In April last your County pointed out to the Main Highways Board that it was difficult to finance work pending payment of the Board’s subsidy,’ ’ stated "the District Engineer, in a letter received by the Ilorowhenua County Council on Saturday. “It was suggested that payments be made in advance, and this matter has been considered by the Board. The Board regrets that your Council’s request cannot be approved, as there is no authority whereby the Board can make such payments and the Audit would prohibit it. However, with a view to helping your Council as far as possible, more" frequent payments can be made. If progress payments are made immediately after* pay-day, they will be dealt with as expeditiously as possible by this Department, and this might go a long way towards solving your Council’s difficulty. I havr asked Mr Acheson to discuss this matter with you.” The Chairman moved that the letter b? received. “I think,” he said, “that we are entitled to know the definition of, ‘as expeditiously as possible.” Some of this expeditious work has not been altogether satisfactory to us. However, I quite realise that there are obstacles in the way regarding the request we made. The Board has been shown an aspect of the matter whereby local bodies may be very

much embarrassed owing to the want of finance.” The motion was carried. PARTICULARS OF BAD CORNERS WANTED.

With reference to No. 00 Highway, the District Engineer wrote that, when the Board was received at Levin earlier in the year, the Council lequestcd that fiee money be made available for the removal of seveiul of the bad corners situated on the section, Waoku Stream to Shannon Borough boundary. He now asked the Council to advise him as soon as possible which were the bad corners that should bo removed with free money and to state the ehainage of those corners. If it was onlv corners Thai the Council wished to have removed with free money, then tlu* estimated cost of removing each of these corners should also be given. “That is very welcome,” Or. Gimblett remarked.

The Chairman said he understood that, the County Engineer had sent the plans forward. The Engineer: That is for the whole road from the end of the bitumen to Shannon. They asked specially for that.

Cr. Gimblett: We have mentioned specifically dangerous corners. Will they accept what- the Engineer has forwaided? The Engineer: The one and threequarter miles immediately south of Shannon ha? been under discussion for some time and the route finally agreed on. -The plans -were forwarded to the Department. Then the District Engineer rang up and asked me for the remainder of the plans and estimates to connect up with the bitumen, as the Board wanted to consider the scheme as a ivhole.

Cr. Gimblett: We asked them for a free grant to take off the dangerous bends. Have they got the estimated cost of removing the bends from the top of Law’s Hill to the piece provided for financially? ' The Chairman: They have the most of that. It was sent in subsequent to this letter. DRAINAGE OF OT ART-MAN A KAI SECTION. The District Engineer wrote with further reference to his request for stone drains to be constructed on the Otaki-Manakau section of Highway. ]-Ie notified that a few stone drains had been const] uetecl which, were quite inadequate to drain the sub-grade. They should be at least a foot deep and the water-tables should be deepened accordingly. If the waier-tables were likely to become blocked up with silt, it might be > necessary to drain the sub-grade with tile drains. The Chairman said lie did not think there was so much fault to find with the depth ox the drains. If the water table was out clown too deep, there was a danger of its scouring underneath.

Cr. Catley said he could not imagine how the water came up through the bitumen.

The Chairman: It. is through the pinholes, caused when the stuff melts in the sun. \ Or. Catley: In seme places it has corrected itself. The letter was referred to the Engineer. SUBSIDY FOR ROAD LEGALISATION. Notification was received from the District Engineer that the Highways Board would subsidise on a £3 for £1 basis any compensation for laud to be taken for r.iacl purposes in connection with the deviation through Pukehou 4B Block.

WAIKAWA STREAM BRIDGE

Mr Brewster reported that the plans for the new bridge over the Waikawa Stream on the Otaki-Levin Highway, were approved and had come to hand. Work was not to be commenced until monetarv authority was issued by the Board. *He had written asking to have it by the end of June, and this had been acceded to He would advertise for tenders in the coming week. On the motion of the Chairman, seconded by Or. Colquhoun, tin: Works Committee was empoAveml to deal with the tenders.. DEVIATION NEAR WIROKINO BRIDGE; SUGGESTED.

Cr. Gimblett stated that he intended to move, at a later meeting, that an estimate be obtained of the cost of a deviation of No. 1 lligliAtav approaching the Wiroki.no bridge. He stated that a deviation ot between twenty and thirty chains would be required, and the Chairman ot Lie Works Committee had inspected t-h? locality.