Computer To Pick Motorway Route

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30529, 26 August 1964, Page 1

Computer To Pick Motorway Route

(From Our Own Reporter) WELLINGTON, August 25. For the first time in New Zealand reading history, a large computer is being used by National Roads Board engineers to choose a route for a motorway. They predict this practice will become common, and is likely to be employed on computations for Christchurch access.

The large computer normally operated by the Treasury is being employed to choose a route for the Auck-land-Hamilton motorway.

The computer may also be employed on actual design of the new highway.

Although this is the first time it had been consulted on route planning, it has already been used to check conventionally-prepared designs for highway work north of Wairoa. In not much more than an hour, the computer is undertaking a task which would

have occupied three men six years. HatMt not been available, the job might not have been attempted. During the school holidays, two schoolb'-ys have been hired to help reduce a mass of material into forms the machine can understand. No targets have been set for construction of this section of the motorway but it is expected to be needed within 20 years. The first job for the board is to choose a route, then to secure the land.