CHEAP CONCRETE ROADS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 904, 22 February 1930, Page 5

CHEAP CONCRETE ROADS

SUCCESS OF TEST STRIP WAITEMATA COUNTY’S HOPES A system of “concrete penetration” which it is proposed by the Waitemata County Council to use on sections of the main highways within its boundaries, has not yet been approved by the Main Plighways Board or the Public Works Department. A meeting of the council yesterday decided to defer work on the Birkenhead-Albany and the Henderson-Huapai highways until the board’s approval has been received. The system of penetration has been found a great success in Australia, according to a report of the county engineer, Mr. A. Murray. Loose metal is laid on a solid foundation and penetrated with a concrete mixture, settling into a solid mass. A test strip laid on the Albany road had proved a success. A 10-ton lorry was run over 1 this section for 28 days with an average of 97 trips a day and, in addition, 324 other motor vehicles used the road every day. The concrete showed no signs of wear, but bitumen laid alongside had deteriorated badly. The cost of the concrete was only slightly above that of bitumen. The wet weather of late January delayed work throughout the county, but progress has been made during the past fortnight with all maintenance. Asking that the classification of certain roads leading to Castor Bay be changed as at present passenger buses were unable to run, a deputation of residents waited on the council. Power •to deal with the suggestion was left with a committee consisting of the chairman, Mr. L. E. Kerr-Taylor, the engineer and the riding member.