ROAD IMPROVEMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 249, 11 March 1913, Page 8

ROAD IMPROVEMENT.

experiment with concrete. Road formation to cope witli the changed conditions of the present day is one of the greatest problems that engineers have to face. Even in New Plymouth it has become a burning (pies-' ■lion. In the Works Committee's report I presented to the Borough Council last i night, appeared the following which was recommended to the Estimates Commit-J tee for favourable consideration:—"Re-" commendation of the Borough Engineer to lay down a piece of road in concrete as a test." This was the outcome of a letter from Mr. C. Skitrop (Borough Engineer) which stated that as the motor car traffic, was increasing very rapidly] it was necessary to improve the method of roadway construction. Water bound macadamised roads had served their pur-1 pose admirably, but were only intended J for animal traction at low speed. For motor ears travelling at a high rate «£ speed something different was required to resist the suction caused by a lowseated vehicle travelling at a high rate of speed. Engineers in several parts of the world bar experimented on the J construction of suitable roads, chiefly ' with tan and bitumer, but had not been successful owing to the excessive cost of laying and maintaining. A well laid tarred macadamised roadway, 42ft. wide, cost approximately £IOO per chain, .but this must be retarred every year at a cost of £l3O per mile. Water bound macdain on Devon street laid down 2 years ago cost £26 per chain.

He pointed out that concrete roadways have 'been experimented with with' greater success, over 820 miles being laid down in the United States last year, l As their streets were planned at present it would not be possible to make use of concrete as a roadway, 'owing to the sewer, the water main and gas main necessitating the constant breaking up of the road for connections, etc. This would be overcome, but would add to the cost of the roadway. Once laid down and set it should not be disturbed in any way. The street, too. must be cleared for 10 to 15 days after the concrete was laid down to enable it to set. A concrete roadway, 42ft. wide with a foundation of boulders was £OS per chain. He recommended that two chains be laid in King street from Egmont street to the Carnegie Library. Cr. Ivibby, when the Works Committee's report was read, moved that the clause be deleted. He did this, he stated, with the object of afterwards moving that the Engineer be given immediate authority to proceed with the work. He considered that after about two years some good permanent roadway would be a necessity in Xew Plymouth. This appeared to be a very modern idea. The Engineer estimated that it would be laid down at a cost of £OS per chain, whereas a tarred road would cost £IOO It was well worth testing at all events, as in any case it would not mean the expenditure of more than £OO or £7O in addition to the cost of metalling. Cr. Clarke agreed with the deletion of the clause, but not on the same ground as the mover. He pointed out that once the road was laid down they could not break it up again. At present in Devon street uietal was ' laid down and a fortnight after they dug it up to repair the 'water main or the sewers. A Councillor: And the gas main! Cr. Clarke: The Gas Company have to repair it afterwards. Before the experiment was undertaken, he continued, he would like the Engineer to give an estimate of the cost of removing the water mains, gas mains and sewers under the footpaths. He admitted that this would mean duplicating the mains, but against that the connections would be shorter. All this, however, should be considered before they could judge of the cost of the experiment. Cr. Am bury favoured this course. After very little further discussion the clause was deleted. Cr. Kibby moved that the Engineer be. authorised to lay down two chains of concrete reading as suggested in the Gill street extension, where the traffic was very heavy.

Cr. Buttimore seconded. Or. Clarke moved as an amendment, that the Engineer be asked to .supply estimates of the cost of laving down concrete road in Devon street from Currie street to Egmont street, including the removal of the water mains and sewers to the footpaths. It was, he reiterated, useless to go in for the experiment until they knew its total cost. Would, he asked. Councillor Kibby be prepared to support the experiment if it was to C6st more than tarring? Cr. Kit) by: Jvo. Cr. .Stocker seconded the motion. Crs. Ainlmrv and Buxton also support-' ed the amendment, which was carried with the addition that the Borough solicitors be asked to advise whether the Cas Company could be required to pay the cost of taking up the gas mains. i The question of tarring Currie street was later introduced, when it was mentioned that there was difficulty in obtaining tar. The Mayor pointed out that sooner or later, if the mains were laid under the footpaths it would be necessary to consider the question of laying down the footpaths with concrete Hags instead of asphalt, and the Engineer was accordingly instructed to submit an estimate of the cost at per square yard, and also to defer the asphalting of the Currie street footpath until aftcv the report had been submitted . ]