GRADING OF N.Z. HIGHWAYS

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 28002, 23 June 1956, Page 2

GRADING OF N.Z. HIGHWAYS

AXLE LOAD LIMITS CRITICISED

ROADS BOARD ASKED TO REVIEW POLICY

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, June 22.

The Minister of Works (Mr W. S. Goosman) offered today to show a fellow member of the National Roads Board places within a few miles of Wellington where traffic had damaged roadways. This was after Mr J. Cullen, representing road transport operators, said he had travelled the country without seeing any evidence of damage by heavy traffic. Mr Cullen was supporting a request from the New Zeland Road Federation asking the board to reconsider its policy on up-grading highways, and thus permit vehicles of a higher axle load than at present to use certain roads.

Thousands of heavy vehicles Which could carry more were now being restricted to the 6|-ton axle load demanded by the Class II road weight restriction, said Mr Cullen.

Mr Goosman said the board’s objective was to obtain , a network of Class II roads throughout the country. Most of New Zealand’s roads were still not fit to be raised to that standard. Most roads were being built with a 6in depth of metal. It would be a big job to bring them up to Class I standard. There were ndw only small sections of road with 9in and 12in axle of metal. He believed the 6J-ton axle load was a good standard. Mr Cullen: The industry does not. Mr Goosman: Then I must disagree. The board had to guard against the importation of vehicles ahead of road classification, said the Deputy-Com-missioner of Works (Mr W. F. Young) That had happened before. Mr N. H. Moss (Municipal Association) said the federation should be referred to the report of the roading investigating committee, which said a ;F ai ??ework Class II roads, with limited Class I roads, would be necesfoF traffic fo F the next 10 years. Ahe board decided to receive the letter from the Road Federation.