ROADS AND BRIDGES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 67, 16 February 1939, Page 16

ROADS AND BRIDGES

AVOUK IN' .MANAWATU. The report of the engineer (Mr H. V. Bond) presented to the monthly meeting of the Manawatu County Council, this week, covered activities in road and bridge works during the past month. It stated: —“During the holiday period, maintenance work was continued on all main traffic routes, and members of the outside staff not required for this work were given their annual leave. The gravel-surfaced main highways were graded frequently. Metal patching was undertaken on the FoxtonShannon highway and the patrol grader was put on this road. It is proposed to send this machine to the southern end of the county periodically to undertake the reshaping of the more important roads in that area. A much greater improvement will, of course, bo made when the roads are not so dry as at present. Metal patching was undertaken on the JlongoteaKangiolu highway. The deviation at Mangawhalu lias been commenced. A building has been removed from the new road line and a new fence lias been erected, together with tho necessary gates. The thirteen chains of formation work has been half completed and the pit metal for the base and top courses has been delivered to Rangiolu in readiness • for carting on to the new formation. Sand drifts have been cleared on the Tarigimoana highway and metal patching and day binding have also been undertaken. The Rongotea-Long-burn highway has been patched and the bridge at Kopanc is now being repaired. The reconstruction work on Mount Stewart and A wall uri-F oil ding highways is now making more satisfactory progress. The formation work on the Mount Stewart highway has been completed with the exception of final trimming over a short distance. Base course metal has now been applied to 108 chains of this road. The earthwork on the Awahuri-l'eilding highway is being pushed ahead very satisfactorily at present. Formation work has been commenced at the Feilding end of the job and it is expected that the spreading of base course metal will he commenced in a day or two. Pumping plants have been installed in two properties and the electric power has now been run on the new road line at tho bush deviation The pumping plants can bo put into commission within the next day or so. The county staff has shifted the ornamental gates on Mr Burke’s property back to the new fence line. The road surfaces are very dry and ravelling is taking place m most parts in consequence. The patrol grader was put over Piaka Road and some very good work done for the time it was there. Some widening was undertaken and tho surface was much improved. Sand drifts were attended to on Wilson's and other roads during the recent gales. Metal was spread on Motuiti Road. A concrete pipe culvert has been laid on Puki Puki Road and a bridge on Taylor’s Bine has been repaired. Metalling has been undertaken on Rosina Bine. Sand drifts on Hollow’s and Downs Roads have been repaired. Metal has been spread on Downs, Pyke’s and Kellow’s Roads. In the Rongotea area metal patching has been undertaken on Kaimaterau, Tomkins and Mill Roads. The filling of the unused drain on the southern side of Kaimalerau Road will be commenced next week. Drains have been cleaned on Taipo Road and metal has been spread on Coles, Taipo and Penny’s Roads. A commencement is to be made immediately with the replacement of the Rowe’s Bine bridge with reinforced concrete pipes. The pipes of the required size have now become available. Speedy’s, McDoncll’s. Richardson’s .and Nga.io Roads have been patched. The Sandon township roads have been graded. A temporary hold-up occurred with the Wilson’s Road bridge, hut this has now been overcome and tho structure will bo finished this week. Kawa Kawa Road has been remetalled. The Rakehou Road surface has been ravelling badly and some finely-crushed pit metal has been spread on the worst portions. One stringer on Nairn’s bridge has been replaced with hardwood. All metalsurfaced roads have Been graded at intervals. A good stock of Australian hardwood decking has now come to hand. During the holidav period tho opportunity was taken to fit new tubes to a locomotive. The tram has now completed the two trips per day to Foxton and is at present making only one. The track has been maintained as well as possible, but sleepers are badly wanted. During December three shifts were being worked at the Pukenui crushing plant, but this has now been reduced to two. All the top course metal for the Foxton Beach Road has been supplied and the sealing chips will he supplied from stock at Pukenui. Concrete metal and sand are still being supplied to the Ohakea aerodrome. During December the output was 2935 cubic yards, and 3493 cubic yards for the month of January. The plant is being maintained up to its usual standard. Owing to the uncertainty of supplies for the erection of houses, the staff on this work was cut down to a minimum. However, they aro now almost completo. the outside plastering being the main item to be carried out. The Sandon cemetery was cleaned and the grass cut. The recent gales did minor damage to the trees, but the debris has been cleared away.”