ROADS OF PATEA COUNTY

Hawera Star, Volume LI, 12 August 1931, Page 10

ROADS OF PATEA COUNTY

SITGGESTED CLASSIFICATION. THIRD-CLASS LIMIT PROPOSED. In a special report on road classifications submitted to the Patea County Council yesterday', the engineer (Mr. L. F. Row) advocated the adoption of a maximum of third-class (six and a half tons) roads within the county, and, where circumstances warranted, the classification of any individual roads into lower classes. “At tlio present time there are no load restrictions on the highways and other main roads in the county, which means that lorries of up to 10 tons gross weight are free to travel over our roads and bridges,” stated -Mr. Row. “In tlie case of multi-axled vehicles this load may be considerably increased and still be within the statutory limit.

! “As several of our larger bridges are very old and rapidly deteriorating, it is obvious that any steps towards reduced loading will tend to prolong their usefulness. The greater part of our highway system has been built up by adding material from time to time to existing foundations of varying depth and quality, and the result is that no definite standard has been attained and some sections are not suitable for the requirements of modern fast and heavily-laden motor vehicles. With such a large percentage of unmetalled roads, this council is still faced with a. construction programme which will extend over many years. In order to conserve funds for this purpose the maintenance costs of our existing surfaced roads and bridges should be kept to a bare minimum by I protection as far as possible from excessive loading. ‘‘At the May meeting of the council, in reply to a communication from the Commissioner of Transport, it was decided that he be asked to undertake a general survey of local transport problems with a view to a uniform classification of roads within the No. 8 highway district. The outcome of this request was a comprehensive report submitted to representatives of the [various local bodies concerned. The report concludes by recommending the following action: (a) The adoption of a maximum of third-class (61-ton loads) roads throughout all counties; (b) where circumstances warrant, the classification of any individual roads into lower classes than the third-class. “At the present time there are relatively few extra heavy vehicles outside the larger centres, and the adoption of the above classification would not seriously handicap transport companies. 'There appears to be little necessity for heavy vehicles to meet our local farming and industrial requirements, but if some restriction is not adopted we may in the near fuutre be faced with the provisions of road facilities for heavy transport lorries from outside districts. Under the circumstances 1 consider that tlie adoption of the Transport Department’s recommendations would be in tlie interests of the district. It would enable the council to build urgently ueeded local roads before undertaking costly construction to meet the demands for intermittent extra heavy traffic, which is not essential l'or our requirements.” The chairman (Cr. AY. G. Belton) luiid that a point to be considered was whether all roads in the county should be made third-class loads, or whether there should be further distinctions made.

The engineer pointed out that the council would have power to limit loads on certain roads during the winter. Cr. C. E. Johnston asked if the . classification of main highways as third-class and all others as fourthclass would meet the position. Air. Row replied that the 6J-ton load was used by the county in catting metal. It would hardly be fair under the circumstances to restrict other users of the road to di-ton loads. “If the council adopted a resolution classifying the county roads as thirdclass, would that amount to a guarantee that bridges were safe for 64-ton loads?” asked the chairman. “At present- the driver who damages a bridge with a heavy load is responsible for the cost of repairs, and with the adoption of a third-class classification we might find ourselves in a position whereby a driver who might damage a bridge with a 5-ton load might be exonerated of blame. It is a position which should be cleared up before the council takes any definite action.” After a brief discussion consideration of the report was deferred until further information on the subject is received from the Transport Department.