ROADS IN THE WAIKATO.

Auckland Star, Issue 38, 14 February 1929, Page 21

ROADS IN THE WAIKATO.

TAR SURFACING EXPERIMENT. HAMILTON" AND CAMBRIDGE. HIGHWAYS BOARD IMPRESSED. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) CAMBRIDGE, this day. An interesting experiment in road surfacing is being made on the nine-mile stretch between Hamilton and Cambridge. The road carries a heavy burden of traffic and instead of putting down the ordinary bitumen type of formation the Waikato County Council is

merely sweeping the present gravel surface clean, filling in the pot holes with clean gravel and surfacing with i-peeially prepared dehydrated tar from tne Auckland Gas Company's works. The process is to heat the tar to a very hisrh temperature and spray two coats with a blending of gravel on each.

Several miles of roading have been completed and despite the heavy holiday traffic to Rotorua and Arapuni it shows no sign-; of wear. On the contrary. the traffic seems to have improved the surface with which the gravel has amalgamated, forming a solid core. The cost to (iate per mile is £'.>"29, against an average of a bitumen road of between £3000 and £4000.

It is proposed later to spray the road with bitumen and spread with chips half an inch deep. The co>t of the completed road is expected to be £1150.

The Highways Board inspected the road this morning and regarded the experiment as exceedingly interesting. Members seemed very impressed with the way the road was standing up to use and expressed the opinion that it successful the method would cheapen road construction to an extent not anticipated.

The work is being carried out under Mr. A. A. Woodward, countv engineer.

The Highways Hoard met the Cambridge Borough Council to-day. The Mayor (Mr. T. F. Richards) said it was the intention of the council to continue tar-sealing the Hamilton Road from the present bitumen to meet the work being done bv the Waikato Countv.

The unsafe and unsatisfactory nature of the Karapiro bridge on the border of the borough was also mentioned and the hope expressed that the board would assist the council to the extent of about £4 to £1 towards erecting a new bridge.

Mr. Jull (chairman) said tiie board was prepared to grant a £2 to £1 subsidy for the work on the Hamilton Road. With regard to the Karapiro ctream bridge, he wanted the council to submit proposals in writing, when they would be considered.