HIGHWAYS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 21 January 1926, Page 5

HIGHWAYS.

NOTES ON THEIR CONSTRUCTION, A VALUABLE ADDRESS. One of the subjects that in all civilised countries is attracting close attention is the formation of highways capable of taking the ever-increasing traffic and their formation in such a way as to increase the life and the ability to stand great strains «of traffic and to reduce costs of upkeep. These 1 points were ably dealt with by Colonel J. Symonds, an acknowledged authority on the question, who, in the course of an address last night at the Grand Theatre, showed cinematograph, illustrations of some of the great highways in Britain and the improvements effected. He also dealt with the scope and value of the drastic improvements effected in loadmaking in England. In the course of hi§ remarks, the speaker showed how the width of [the great main roads had been increased to 120 ft., in many cases with an 80ft. carriageway, the telegraph poles set back to the hedges, the corners rounded toff at intersections, so that motorists travelling at 25 miles an hour on a side-road had a much better view of the approaching traffic, and consequently the danger at crossroads was reduced to a minimum. He showed how congestion on narrow roads caused oy increasing traffic had been relieved ■y the use of by-pass roads, and how grades had been reduced so that in no part of the country was there one of more than one in twenty-five.. A map of the streets of London was shown, in addition to typical main roads, such as the London-Dover, AVatling Street, the site of an old Roman ; oad passing through Cobham “Woods; and the roads Ipswich to Norwich, through Oxford and Sutton, and many others typical of the work being carried out by English authorities. ‘ The large sum of money, he said, raised |by the motor tax of £1 per horse-power was being utilised by the Ministry of Transport on new construction, widening, grading, surfacing, setting back hedges and telegraph poles, and im- .- proving corners. The result had: been a largely-reduced cost of maintenance and great improvements in means of travelling, bringing places much closer to one another and improving the conditions of life in the inland, villages. In some pMces roads made with a car-riage-way of forty feet had had in a short time to be widened.

The construction on the main -roads carrying huge volumes of traffic, was nine inches of broken stone, with, ia two-inch layer of cinders, two -inches of binder and a two-inch cover, both tarviated, and this was found, he said, to be carrying the traffic satisfactorily. - . " The speaker said there was practically no speed limit on the main high--ways, except through villages and at corners, but- the authorities were endeavouring to teach motorists common 6ense, and if it was considered that anyone was driving to the common danger a substantial fine was- imposed iand no argument allowed. By means of all these improvements in road construction and control of traffic, the percentage of accidents had * been reduced very largely, and it was worth mention that in 1924 there were no road-crossing accidents. While the number of cars was increasing materially the casualties were -decreasing,, and in Eng’and the number was actually smaller than in New York. Better motoring manners, wider roads and ecrn.rs were the agencies effecting this m -movement.

Views of the main road from Livermi to Manchester showed that it had a width of three hundred feet, comprising paths, shrubs, tram route, and motoring carriage-way. There the tram route was made so as to get the "eople out of the city. In parts of England such as Oxford, Sutton. Ipswich to Norwich, the pene--1 rat ion methods, such as used in Tara-, aaki. were in vogue, and, said the sneaker, were giving the greatest satisfaction. The traffic was very heavy, estimated, say, at Sutton as a. ’bus a minute, and that a solid-tyred vehicle: maintenance would be, lie added, about fourpence a souare yard. A picture of London take from the air gave a vivid idea of the enormous amount of traffic to be controlled, and the congestion that was to be dealt with. Then followed a very interesting series of pictures showing the manufacture of the bitumen, the correct methods of formation and laying, and the whole of the processes carried out till the nerfecUv-finished road was completed. It was exceedingly interesting and instructive, and -should be of great value, especially to the engineers present. The clear and detailed comment on the views -shown, giving in sequence the leading features of the reading system and methods of Eing^nd—considered. said Colonel Symonds. to jbe the best in the world —were followed, with close attention by his hearers. It was altogether an interesting and an educational evening.