New Roads Body ‘An Urgent Need’

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31462, 31 August 1967, Page 1

New Roads Body ‘An Urgent Need’

(New Zealand Press

WELLINGTON, August 30.

There was an urgent need for a new authority to investigate recurring road surface failures on New Zealand roads, said an Auckland engineer, Mr M. Batten, in a paper presented to the roading symposium in Wellington today.

He said the problems arising from pavement failure demanded an urgent solution because of the high remedial costs involved.

Investigations after the failure of three miles of the southern motorway near Auckland in 1964 revealed that many of our national highways were similarly deteriorating, he said. “The National Roads Boardsponsored road research unit is only in its infancy and has a promising future. "But I believe the formation of a road research advisory council should be considered,” Mr Batten said.

"This could represent the Government, the National Roads Board, local authorities, universities and private enterprise interests. “It should have a chairman free from commitments to any of the authorities financing our roading system.”

Mr Batten said that the stage had been reached when another authority was required to investigate design, construction and testing of road pavements. "It could establish improvements in our techniques for greater efficiency and economy,” he said. “We have come to a period of financial stringency when our works programme will be reduced, and the slower pace of construction should be conducive to such action.”