MAIN ROADS

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 67, 16 September 1936, Page 12

MAIN ROADS

HIGHWAYS POLICY

FUTURE DEVELOPMENT

GOVERNMENT'S PLAN

CO-ORDINATING CONTROL

An outline of the Government's

policy in respect of main highways is given in the Public Works Statement, which was tabled in the House of Representatives this afternoon by the Minister of Public Works (the Hon. R. Semple). The Minister referred particularly to the need for planned administration of the highways, and indicated that legislation would be introduced in the near future to give effect to the Government's proposal to nationalise some 4000 miles of main highways.

"Main highways requirements account for the largest proportion of the expenditure which is entrusted to my Department, and this fact in itself goes to show how important is this phase of its activities," said the Minister.

"At present the main highways system is comprised of some 12,000 miles oi the. most important urban, arterial, and rural roads, and the control of this system is exercised under the jurisdiction of the Main Highways Board by local authorities and the Public Works Department. The Main Highways Board has been responsible for directing and assisting local authorities in the improvement and better maintenance of main highways in a way which has given a great measure of general satisfaction. The improved! standard of the principal roads of the Dominion today has been brought about only by the co-operative efforts of the board and the local authorities concerned, but, while the position is as I have stated, it is considered, nevertheless, that the existing methods of administration do'■■■ not. adequately cater for present-day needs. I' refer particularly to the divided control of our main highways and the delay and inconvenience which arise through lack of co-ordinated and planned administration. Although many local authorities are possessed of a broad national perspective, there are, unfortunately, others which allow purely local considerations to prejudice their judgment.

"Road transport facilities are vital to our national welfare, and communication by land depends at all times on our main traffic arteries being kept up to a high standard of efficiency. Under the present system of control, it has happened that trunk routes remain uncompleted because of the inability or unwillingness of a local authority to contribute a reasonable share of the finance involved.

\' In order to unify. the control of :tbe principal arterial highways, and to ensure that such highways are properly conditioned for continuous service, it is proposed to place approximately 4000 miles under the direct control of the Main Highways Board. This milage will be selected from existing main highways and classified as a State highways system, so that the full cost of improvements to a reasonable standard and the proper maintenance of that standard will be provided wholly from the Main Highways Account. This will also relieve local authori- ■ ties of some financial obligations and enable them to devote needed attention to secondary highways of local importance, as well as ordinary county or settlement roads. "The necessary legislation to give effect to the foregoing proposal will be brought down in the near future. I have discussed with the Main Highways Board some of the details involved in the change contemplated, and tentative arrangements have already been made in anticipation of the scheme being brought into operation. BOARD'S WORK APPRECIATED. "On various occasions it has been declared to be the policy of the Government to assume the direct responsibility for the expenditure of public moneys, and, as far as possible, to provide for the administration of public activities through the elected representatives of the people. It is therefore proposed to include in the amending legislation provision for regulating the functions of the board in accordance with the policy I have mentioned. In making this statement, however, I do not wish to detract in any way from what the board has accomplished during the past twelve years, because I fully appreciate the excellent service it has. rendered in that period.

"The extension of the board's jurisdiction in respect of the proposed State highways system and the intention to retain the board with its present personnel indicate a recognition by the Government of the success achieved under the board's administration.

"The activities of the board during the past.. financial year are more particularly described in its annual report appended to this statement. The report, shows that the total expenditure from highways funds on actual works, as distinct from loan and special charges, amounted to £1,600,000, which is nearly £400,000 more than was expended on similar works during the year immediately preceding. In addition, interest and loan charges accounted for £292,000, while general-rate subsidies, together with a special subsidy on rates levied upon farming land, involved further payments aggregating £371,000. The question of charging rate subsidies to the Main Highways Account is one which the Government intends to review in connection with its general financial policy as soon as circumstances allow.

"Although the present urgent requirements have not yet enabled the matter to be completely investigated, the financing of highways operations entirely from revenue instead of partly from loan-money as hitherto is also receiving serious consideration. The progressive increase in annual loan charges, in respect of highways, now involves the appropriation of approximately £300,000 per annum, and it is desirable that if at all possible future works be financed from current revenues.

"Expenditure from the Highways Revenue. Fund throughout the entire highways system averaged the equivalent of £122.4 per mile, compared with £100.3 for the previous year. At present the maintenance costs are relatively high in some localities, due to various factors, such as scarcity .of metal, increased traffic, and adverse weather conditions. Where ch'cumstances warrant, permanent surfacing is carried- out. and the cost of maintenance can then be reduced. The increase in the average expenditure per mile per annum is due to the fact that for a number of years past insufficient funds were available to provide for necessary maintenance works, and it was the aim of all concerned to restrict expenditure in every way, but last year a larger sum was allocated, and this is reflected in the figures quoted. , INCREASED MOTOK TRAFFIC. . "In its report the board refers to the ' steady increase in motor traffic generally as disclosed by the additional

registrations of motor vehicles and the greater importation of motor spirit. It is apparent that, with the increased traffic, there is an immediate necessity to intensify the maintenance of highway surfaces, and improve, as far as possible, present unsatisfactory alignment. Improvement of alignment is a substantial factor in the elimination of accident risk, and, while much good work in this direction has already been accomplished, a great deal remains to be done. "In order to meet present requirements it is proposed to allocate £1,000,000 from highways funds this year for maintenance purposes. "In addition to this sum, £200,000 is being provided for urgent bridge renewals. The problem of replacing decayed and obsolete bridges is still somewhat acute, and, while this class of work is being carried out as expeditiously as possible, further acceleration is largely dependent on the progress that can be made with engineering surveys, site investigations, foun-dation-testing, and the designing of suitable and economic structures based on the peculiar features of each case. "The permanent surfacing of trunk routes and radial highways, which carry a sustained volume of traffic, resulted in "the completion, during the past year, of 27 miles of dustless pavement. At March 31, 1936, the total length of highways thus surfaced was 1943 miles, which is 16 per cent, of the total main highways system. This class of work will be continued during the current year, the intention being to concentrate primarily upon the main arterial routes, although other highway sections will receive attention where traffic considerations and maintenance costs justify this form of surfacing. WORK PROCEEDING. "A number of construction works are in process of completion, and these will be continued during the present year. In addition, further works comprising reconstruction, realignment, widening of narrow and dangerous sections, general improvements, new bridging, and level-crossing eliminations will be undertaken, and for this purpose the sum of appi-oximately £1,300,000 is being appropriated.

"The Government has arranged for the Main Highways Board to proceed with a vigorous programme of railwaycrossing eliminations, and a considerable amount of investigation and design work has already been completed in this connection. Already a large number of these grade separations are in hand, and within v the ensuing twelve months I anticipate that many of the most dangerous locations will have been dealt with. Within the next two years it is hoped to dispose of the majority of the present crossings, thereby removing a considerable source of danger and preventing accident and loss of life which unfortunately result from the failure of road-users to observe adequate precautions when negotiating these danger spots.

"The value of State assistance to local authorities in respect of the maintenance and improvement of main highways generally may be gauged from the fact that during the past year the Main Highways Account provided from public funds 80 per cent, of the cost of maintenance and 84 per cent, of the cost of construction. Such assistance will be continued and wherever possible extended,"