ROADS IMPROVE

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 565, 18 January 1929, Page 12

ROADS IMPROVE

TAR-SEALING SOUTHWARDS NORTHWARD ROUTES DRY Many of the road surfaces round Auckland have considerably improved within the past week or two. The Auckland 'Automobile Association, in issuing its weekly report on roading conditions, comments favourably on the efforts made to repair the damage caused to road surfaces by the exceptionally heavy volume of traffic during the recent holiday period. Road reconstruction is proceeding with renewed energy and the long spell of fine weather is enabling the various engineers to make excellent progress.

In a conference held this week between the motorists’ representative on the Main Highways Board, officers of the Public Works Department, and officials of the Auckland Automobile Association, the A. A. A. was assured that every effort was being made to reduce the amount of loose metal on the road and to confine the rolling surface to a thin film of very fine metal.

In the past it has been the practice on new formation work to spread heavy metal chips to a dangerous depth and depend on motor vehicles to roll this down before a finer metal was used, preparatory to sealing the surface. It is contended in many quarters that the cost of the damage caused to tyres and motors generally would be sufficient to have paid interest and sinking fund on a loan that would provide a finished permanent surface. After an inspection of the Great South Road this week the A.A.A. states that it is convinced that the worst is over, and that the Highways Board and the engineers are alive to the wishes of motorists.

Tar-sealing operations have been commenced, and it is expected that, given fine weather, a very fine surface will be provided in the next few months between Auckland and Ngaruawahia.

The A.A.A. appeals to motorists on all roads to strictly observe the various notices erected giving instructions and indication of new road works, and to exercise due caution and courtesy when passing workmen. Graders are continually at work on the Hamilton-Ngaruawahia Road, but no sooner is the road restored to good order than pot-holes immediately develop. It is apparent that this class of surface is quite unsatisfactory, and the dust nuisance has now become a menace when traffic is heavy.

All the routes northward are reported dry, but many of the clay surfaces are rough. The East Coast route is permitting traffic with only moderate discomfort. Owing to heavy reconstruction work the route will be unpassable after rain. On the Auckland and Helensville route very active work has been commenced on the Lincoln Road, and in the event of wet weather cars should avoid this main route. The A.A.A. has communicated with the Highways Board requesting special maintenance on the alternative route via Swanson, which at present is very rough. Most of the other roads, including those on the Coromandel Coast and round the National Park, are reported good, except for patches. The Te Kuiti-Mokau Road is reported as disgracefully neglected, and not conforming to the standard of maintenance.