ROAD WORK.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 14 June 1928, Page 3

ROAD WORK.

EG MONT COUNTY ACTIVITIES. FIGURES FOR 1927-2 S. The following information as to the operations of the Egmont County Council, so far as reconstruction, formation, metalling and maintenance during the year 1927-28 is concerned, has been furnished, by the council’s engineer (Mr F. M. Cork ill) MAIN ROADS RECONSTSRUCTION. Main South Road. —On the northern length 4 miles 29 chains were l reconstructed during the period. On the southern length ST chains were done. The bulk of the earthwork ini the R-au-tini and Pungarehu deviations has also been finished. Elthaui Road.—This road was completed by the finishing off of 84 chains at Awatuua and the filling of the gap at the Mangahunio bridge. The total expenditure oh road reconstruction account during 1927-28 was £22,017 7s Od. BRIDGES. The following bridges were completed:— The Purnehu bridge on the OpunnkeSfcrtaford road, steel joists and hardwood deck on concrete abutments, £l4ll. The Waiaua stream bridge on the Wirernu road, steel joists and hardwood deck on concrete abutments, £943. The Bunguereere stream bridge on the South road, reinforced concrete, cost £1543. The Hcimama bridge on the Main South road has boon almost completed. The total expenditure on bridge loan account was £4313 17s Id. FORMATION AND METALLING.

Twenty chains were formed and metalled with pit metal on the Pungarcku road, and CO chains were formed oil the Paora road. The Mataikahawni road was ditched and eulverted only. Formation on 1:} milcsi of flic Okaliu road was completed and .the whole length was metalled. The cost to date lias been £.1458, including £451 paid by tlic Govennniient for formation. MAINTENANCE OF BY-ROADS. The amounts spent directly on byroads are as under:— 000 Riding, £9IC, equal to .43d rate on the riding. Opua Riding, £1340, equal to ,S2d rate. Rahotu Riding, £1430, equal to .86d rate. Newali Riding, £CS4, equal to .53d rate. An average of .Cod rate over the county. The amount spent has 1 been only sufficient to keep the roads in order (and in some eases not even this), but practically no proper re-metailing has been done, and I would impress upon the council the necessity foT making better provision, if at all possible, for the future. Maintenance really means keeping the roads up to their original good state when constructed, but at present, though the by-roads are superficially smoother than they have been, yet they are being quickly worn away

and have no real strength. On many roads the excessive thinness l of the metal remaining is shown well iby the stumps, logs, etc., showing through. The present starvation cannot continue if the roads sure to be kept passable, and a great effort to remetal thoroughly a definite proportion of the mileage each yeaivshould be made. MAIN HIGHWAYS. Maintenance.— Main South Road, £3359, Eltham Road £4SI, a total of £3840, equal to .57d rate. Deduct subsidies £2G4G, the not cost is £1194, equal to .18d rate! - In this case it should be remembered that much of the mileage has just been reconstructed and has involved mo expenditure on the maintenance of the surface. The expenditure called for in the future, when re-sealing will be needed, will be greater.