CONCRETING SOUTH ROAD

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 618, 21 March 1929, Page 16

CONCRETING SOUTH ROAD

PAPAKURA TO BOMBAY HILLS ENGINEER SUBMITS REPORT DRURY WANTS PRESENT ROUTE (From Our Own Correspondent) PUKEKOHE, Wednesday. Tentative proposals in connection with the permanent surfacing in concrete of the Great South Road from the Papakura town district’s southern boundary to the northern end of the Bombay Hills were placed before the Franklin County Council at its meeting today.

The cost of constructing and concreting the 7Q miles involved, is estimated by the engineer, Mr. J. F. McArthur, to be £120,344 7s 6d. In a comprehensive report the engineer advised that in order to improve the grades and alignment Ut would be essential to provide deviations, which totalled over 18 acres. The survey made provided for good visibility for the entire length of the road. The sharpest bend would be on a radius of six chains, while the grades throughout were of an easy nature, two short ones being 1 in IS and 1 in 19 respectively.

Owing to the heavy nature of the constructional work it had been concluded that it would be necessary to metal the road and maintain it for at least ono year prior to the laying of concrete, or otherwise there would be a. subsidence in the fillings. Provision was made, continued the report, for reconditioning and maintaining deviation and local service routes during the work of construction. As each section was completed the maintenance on such routes would decrease.

In respect of the route to be followed at Drury it had been deemed advisable to furnish estimates of two routes owing to the representations of residents in that township. The alternative route left the present Great South Road some 68 chains south of the Papakura boundary and rejoined tho road near the overhead railway bridge at Runciman. The length of the route through Drury township was 131 chains, and the alternative one llli chains, some 195 chains shorter. The estimated cost of the former was £ 31.469 15s, which sum included the construction of two concrete bridges each 100 feet in length, in addition to deviation and service routes during the reconstruction. Including one concrete bridge of a length of 300 feet, the cost of the latter, known as the “Slippery Creek route,” was £30,073 17s.

The report was considered in committee, it being decided to submit th* data to the Xo. 2 District Highways Council, together with the recommendation that the route via the Drury township be followed. Prior to tho latter decision being arrived at some 30 members of tho Drury Progressive League waited on the council, urging that in the interests of the towrffehip the present route of the Great South Road be followed.