FOXTON-PALMERSTON HIGHWAY DAMAGED.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 5 September 1932, Page 5

FOXTON-PALMERSTON HIGHWAY DAMAGED.

FLOODS WILL RESULT IN HEAVY EXPENSE. PROBABLE RE-SEALING OF TWO AND A-HALF MILES. The flood waters which last week swept over the 2$ miles of main, highway extending from Rangiotu to Hamilton’s Line, just south of Tiakitahuna, caused considerable damage to the bitumenised surface. Engineering observations of parts of the road suggest the probability of re-sealing having to be \undertaken over the whole 2i miles. The sealing on the highway surface is inches thick on a-black asphalt base, and it is understood that the top coat cracked right through in places. The (cost of laying , this, ’ £IO,OOO, did not 'include road formation and heavy onderneath metalling for the foundations, which are reported to be in a waterllpgged state, owing to the swampy jnatqre and peaty basis of the ground .Which it traverses. These unsatisfactory conditions have paused i holes to develop in a first-class jiavpipent through the weight of motor travelling over an unsteady surface, and if is considered that it. Wfill take a fortnight for the road foundations to dry put. Meanwhile heavy traffic exceeding 4s: tons gross is prohibited from using it. A, close inspection of the whole route will not be possible until the present layer of silt is worn off the road by traffic. It is thought, however, that the stretch pf highway which has been subjected to flooding will have to be ive-sealed in order to- prevent the disintegration of -the whole surface through surface water lodging in cracks and holes. , , v Oh Hamilton’s Line, the metalled surface’ ha« broken up completely under the rush of flood waters, and'a large section at-the top end has disappeared into the Manawatu river. i. mu ■■