ROADS AND PATHS

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 145, 16 December 1927, Page 10

ROADS AND PATHS

AN EARLY START

PROGRAMME OUTLINED

REPOKT TO COUNCIL

Though,a great deai of good paving weather has been lost this year through the long delays in the provision of finance, there are still a few months of warm weather ahead, and, as was outlined in a report to the City Council from the Works Committee last evening, it should be possible to lay down a big area of bituminous pavement under the last loan provision before -winter comes round again." Warmish weather is necessary for the successful prosecution of this work. Tentative sealing and footpath programmes were also embodied in tho report, which is as follows:—

It is anticipated that approximately eight miles of paving computed on basis of 24ft width can be completed with favourable weather conditions by the end of May, 1927. Tho following streets are submitted for consideration, together with the order in which such streets should be paved; Consideration has been given in deciding the order submitted, to length of haul, present condition of street in regard to speedy preparation work in order that paving may follow at a suitable.interval to al. low of consolidation of necessary street cuts, etc., and the adaptability of existing plant to those streets having heavy grades.

The programme as outlined may not be strictly adhered to iv the event of unforeseen contingent" works arising, and is submitted purely as a basis for the commencement. of tho 192? loan works.

The streets and roads listed are:— Evans Bay road, Aitken, Sydney (East), Mansfield,: and Boy streets, Bussell "terrace, Wilson street, Aberdeen quay, and Watford street, Buckle, Arthur, Bugby, and Tasman streets, Carlton Gore road, Boulcott street, Brooklyn road, and M'Ginnity street. The committee recommended that Main Karori road (which is on the 1925 schedule) should be paved during the warmest weather, and that work should proceed from the tram terminus on the up grade.

SURFACE SEALING. j Preparation work for surface sealing is'to be financed from revenue. During last winter the following sti'cets were j prepared and have been maintained in such a condition that they are at present ideal forreceiving their first seal coat immediately:r-^Gleii, Einiu, Ngaio, and Kowhai roads, Buller, Vivian, Owen, Coromandel, Mahora, and Te Whiti streets^ and portions of Clyde, Mersey, Avon, Yule, and Boss streets. The total area of sealing to bo laid in those streets will be 74,03S square yards. It is recommended that extensive preparation work be carried ' out during, next winter, on those streets under the surface-sealing schedulej-and that no attempt be made to seal any street which has not carried one winter's traffic subsequent to its surface being prepared for sealing. A suitable programme for next winter is being prepared. FOOTPATHS. The programme for footpath construction has been considered in the first instance as to its relation with the paving and surface sealing schedule, in order that the three types of construction may be co-ordinated, and those footpaths /which.are to be kerbed and channelled and -which occur in streets to be paved or surface sealed to receive prior consideration. It is intended that a footpath construction crew will be concentrated in each of the three districts. On the above basis the following programme has'been prepared:—No. 1 district: City, Owen street, . Ohiro, Brooklyn road; Island Bay, Esplanade, Trent, Derwent, and Clyde streets. No. 2 district: Miramar and Seatoun, Falkirk avenue (Dundas street to Burnham street), Marine parade, Eongdtai terrace, Wexf ord and Hobart streets. No. 3 district: Karori, Reading street. No. 4 district: Khandallah, Cashmere avenue.

The footpaths enumerated above affect paving or surface sealing work and form the nucleus of the footpath programme which can be extended at any time. SURFACING AND WIDENING. Councillor J. Aston suggested that the surfacing of Buckle and Arthur streets should not at present be undertaken, as it was intended to widen those streets, as part of the east-west highway, to 66ft. He remarked that Northland road, which was surface-sealed under -sontract last year, was breaking up badly, and j should be attended to early in the new (year, otherwise money spent would be largely wasted. Councillor W. H. Bennett supported Councillor Aston's contention regarding Buckle and Arthur streets. Councillor Semple said that in the report regarding forecasted expenditure no reference was made to public conveniences, quite a lot had been.heard' of which before the poll was takeni Perhaps the chairman of tho Works Committee would make a statement so that the public might know What the council had in mind. He thought the public' conveniences should havo been included in the schedule.

Ecferring to Buckle and Arthur streets, the chairman of tho Workß Committee (Councillor H. D. Bennett) said that the surfacing proposed would not extend over lengths which were to be altered in grade, and what surfacing was carried out would be done in such a manner that it would not bo lost when the widening was carried, out. As to Northland road, Councillor Bennett said that that surfacing was part of a contract for threo miles of sealing, tho terms of the contract providing for two years' maintenance; tho contracting company had, however, since gone out of business.

The Mayor remarked that arrangements had been made whereby another company would take over the business and liabilities of the contracting company; the position was thereforo safeguarded. ' '

In regard to conveniences, tho detailed plans had not yet been prepared, and the work could not therefore be commenced.