ROADS AND BRIDGES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 49, 6 May 1942, Page 5

ROADS AND BRIDGES

COUNTY ENGINEER'S REPORT

ANNUAL ANALYSIS

Reviewing tlie work ever the County during the past year the acting engineer, Air R. (). Tomkins, presented ]iis annual report to the Gownty Council last -week. Some of the main points read as under: — Main Highways The only work outside of ordinary maintenance carried out was the completion of the concrete slab walling on the Wainui Road across the mudflat. 1905 cubic yards of maintenance metal were spread, on highways by contract, in addition to some 525 cubic yards spread by county trucks. 1470 cubic yards were carted, comprising banking, clearing slips etc. Unforeseen didicu!ties in the opening up of Campbell's Pit at Matata prevented' the spreading of an additional S(H) cubic yards (approx) of gravel on the MatataRotoma Road and the District Engineer, Public Works Department has been requested to make extra provision this year for metalling on this road. Judging by the trend of things however, it would appear that even less money than previously will be made 1 available, for Highways maintenance.

Public Works Department Grants

100 chains of Wano's Road 1 and. 35 chains of Kopeopeo Drain Road were formed up and metalled, 1620 cubic yards of metal being spread in all. Xo bridges were built out of grant money last year.

County Main and Riding Roads

In general these roads have been maintained to their normal standard and in some cases improved. An endeavour was made U> increase the amount of maintenance metal on these roads. This was achieved: to some degree but not to the extent desired, the metalling programme having been interrupted iirst by the council's plant being engaged, in the supplying of 7880 cubic yards of metal required by farmers as a result of the change over to> cheese production and secondly as a result of the trackson shovel being laid up for repairs during the metalling season. Nevertheless exclusive: of highways and grant, 17,733 cubic yards of gravel were spread of which 13,873 cubic yards Ave re bj' contract and the balance 3860 cubic yards by county and hired vehicles. The total output on all roads including Highways was 21,783 cubic yards' of metal as compared with 15,979 cubic yards the previous year. Spoil shifted in various road improvement and maintenance works totalled 14,708 cubic yards (12,220 cubic yards the prveious year).

New roads formed up and metalled were as follows: Pckatahi Station Road 32 chains; Rewatu Road Extension 25 chains; Bennett's Road 15 chains; Hodge's Road Extension 25 chains; Whirinaki Ford Road 50 chains; Pahou Pah Road 48 chains; To ma's Road 10 chains; Meihana Tahawera's Road 20 chains; Leaders

Road 12 chains; Mokai's Road 25 chains; Wano's Read 100 chains; Kopeopeo Drain Road 35 chains.

With the reduced amount of traffic on the roads it might lie considered that less planing would' be required. Coupled with the fact that the planers have now gone further afield,, e.g. Tc Teko-Galatea, Fenton's Mill, Onepu and, Tc Teko-Plan-taticn Homestead Road's, experience has shown that when planers have been laid up for repairs, even for short periods, road surfaces have quickly corrugated and deteriorated. This was demonstrated in the case of the Te Teko-Galatea Road during a recent period when through lack of petrol few private cars on the road yet under the remaining heavy traffic when regular planing was interrupted the road quickly corrugated. Bridges With the cessation of Government funds the number of bridge renewals has reduced considerably. In consequence a heavier strain is imposed in maintaining the numerous old wooden, structures many of which arc due for renewal. Two bridges on Langenberger's and Wano's Roads" respective collapsed under traffic and were rebuilt. A further bridge on Langenberger's Road was rebuilt above flood level. Savage's Bridge on Bell's Road had stringers and decking renewed, McIvor Road Bridge was re-decked, also the Raroa Road Bridge. Meihana Tahawera's Bridge was lifted and redecked. The footbridge at Oliope was re-erected on the northern side of the road. A private bridge was built for Mr L. Sisam. In all some 105 lin. ft. of bridges were built or redecked- and SCO lin. ft. of piles driven. i

Matata Water Supply Since February 1938, Matata has been dependent for water on a temporary dam and improvised pipe line. Sections of the Avooden pipe through the Unvnship haAe also caused much trouble and expense for jnany years. The concrete dam has since been cleaned out and new sluice gate provided. The temporary pipe line has been re-laid yi a secure and permanent poition. 29 chains of Avooden pipe haA'e been replaced' with W.I. galvanised, pipe. On completion of the present contract the only Ave ale points in the scheme. Avill be the remaining sections of Avooden pipe which should be renewed at the first opportunity. Edgecumbe Water Supply A contract has been let for the Installation of a Avaler supply scheme lor Edgecumtoe township. Water will be drawn from the Rangitaiki Plains Dairy Co's factory supply and approximately 50 properties Avi.ll be served. All galvanised piping is in hand and 19 house meters held in stock. Labour Wages have remained constant throughout the year. Experienced labour is proving increasingly difficult to secure. Generally Maori labour only is available. Higher Avagcx paid by a local concern h;iAC induced some employees to leave Council's employ. The council decided that the Act-mg-Engineer's annual report be rcceived, and adopted and that the Acting Engineer be complimented on the comprehensive nature of his report and also on the Avay he lias handled the work of his department.