The Finest Highway in the Dominion

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 48, 20 November 1925, Page 5

The Finest Highway in the Dominion

What Hot Mix Bituminous Concrete Means to a Road

■ N account of its geographical position, the hilly nature of the surrounding country, and the absence of numerous outlets, the roading problem in Wellington has proved a very grave one in the past. For in-: stance, the Hutt Road is the main arterial highway for al] traffic in and out of the city. Consequently, the question of providing a satisfactory surface has always been a vital one. The late Mr. Morton, while City Engineer, made an exhaustive study of roads during an extended tour of England and America, and on his return to Wellington recommended the “hot mix bituminous concrete” method of road construction as the most likely to stand up to the unusual demands on the city’s main thoroughfares. Mr. Morton’s recommendation was adopted, and a number of streets were laid down, which are to-day in perfect conditionThe Hutt Road Board also decided that bitumen was 'the best material for the construction of the new road, and to-day the bitumen highway on the Hutt Road 'is recognised as the finest highway in the Dominion. The Hutt Road was constructed by the Wellington City Council as contractors, who set a new standard for road construe-? tion in this country. The total length of road is 425 chains, and the bitumen surface is 24 feet wide by 5 inches thick—a 3-inch black base and 2-inch upper laying of finer aggregates—and the work was completed in 104 paving days. The total area paved was 78,728 sq. yards, and the cost of the actual paving worked out at Bs. 6id. per yard, or including haunches, top-dressing of bridges, and depreciation on plant, 9s. 8 id. per sq. yard. As evidence of the efficiency of the organisation of the engineers responsible for the work, it is interesting to note that one mile of the road was actually completed in 16 working days, and one great advantage of this type of road over concrete is the fact that as each day’s section of the road was completed, it was thrown open to traffic the following day, whereas with concrete, traffic cannot be allowed on the new work for several weeks. Pavement of probably half the thickness of that used on the Hutt Road would be sufficient for ordinary roads, with a corresponding reduction in cost, but in order to ensure a thoroughly satisfactory job, it is important that proper plant be employed on the work..