BETTER HIGHWAYS

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6942, 22 June 1929, Page 5

BETTER HIGHWAYS

Annual Review of Work in Manawatu

£140,000,000 ON CONSTRUCTION

The annual meeting of No. 9 District Highways Council was held in Palmerston North on Thursday afternoon, when representatives were present from the various counties in the district. Mr P. H. P. Konayne, district engineer, of the Public Works department, Wellington, was in the chair and the following county representatives were also present: Messrs. G. A. Monk (llorowhcnua), A. I. Mackay (Hutt), H. Pickford (Makara), J. Batckeiar (Kairan-n-a), L. 1\ McLean (Kiwitea), A. Campbell (Oroua) and W. E. Barber (Manawatu). All the above were nominated by their respective counties as members of the council for the coming year, and the council will bo composed of these with the addition of Mr. S. J. Strahan (Pohangina) who was unable to be present. Construction Summary. The summary of construction work submitted to the council showed that the following work had been done during the year ended March 31, 1929, the corresponding figures for the year 1927-28 being given in parenthes: — New formation, lm. 26ehs.. (lm. 35 ehs.); widening and preparation work, 36m. 77ehs. (12m. 16chs.); gravelling and metalling, 2m 24chs. (28chs.); sealing or surface treatment, 7m. 22c.hs. (9in. 58chs.); bituminous macadam, (penetration) 6m. 12 chs. (sm. 60chs.); biituminous concrete 9m. 12chs (nil); bridges, 1157 lineal ft. (839 lineal ft.); engineering surveys completed, 52m. sCells, (lm, 10chs.); plans completed, -16 m. 56chs. (lm. lOchs). The total expenditure on construction work for the year 1928-29 was £140,000. Of this amount the Main Highways Board subsidy was £114,000, the rest being found by tho local bodies concerned.

The detailed report dealing construction and surface sealing and submitted to members included on Manawatu roads: Manawatu County Section: FoxtonHlmatangi. —Three miles 30 chains of this length were widened and consolidated in preparation for paving. No. 60 Levin —Palmerston North via Shannon Highway. —Horowhenua County Section: During the year 5 miles of penetration paving were completed by the Horowhenua County. This work is in good order. The Kara Stream bridge, consisting of 1 20ft. span and 210 ft. spans with ISf't. roadway was completed. Kairanga County Section: The construction of Lynch’s bridge, one 37ft. span x ISft. and Keeble’s Bridge, one 30ft. span x 18ft. roadway has. been completed. These bridges consist of rolled steel joists with concrete decks and concrete abutments.

No. 59 Eoxton-Shannon Highway— Manawatu River Bridge and road deviation at Shannon: This bridge, which comprises steel girders on wooden piers and consists of 12 60ft. spans, was completed during the year, and the deck surfaced by £ho penetration method. The erection of the bridge was done by contract, and the surfacing of the deck by this department. On the Manawatu County side of the bridge 33 chains of new road formation and metalling was completed, the formation ,by tho county and the metalling by this department. On the Horowhenua County section of the deviation, 68 chains of new metalling were carried out by this department, also the erection of two small bridges each one 12ft. span. These bridges comprised rolled steel joists on concrete abutments and timber decking, which had a penetration. surfacing applied. On the Shannon borough section of the deviation, S chains of new formation and metalling were completed by this department, also by contract the Mangaore Stream bridge. This bridge comprised three 30ft rolled steel joist spans oa wooden piers, and the • decking was penetration surfaced by this department. The deviation and bridges wore opened to traffic last December. N 0.58 Himitangi-Ashhurst via Palmerston North. —Himitangi-Rangiotu (Manawatu County): On this section 60 chains of reformation and foundation metalling were completed by the Manawatu County during the year. Eangiotu-Whakarongo (Kairanga County): Three miles 40 chains were ■widened* and prepared for paving by the Kairanga County, the thickness of the new foundation metal being increased and the shoulders consolidated. Bullocky Creek bridge wai completed—che 10ft. span x 30ft. wide. The Mangaone Stream bridge at Awapuni is in progress. This bridge consists of two 30ft. rolled steel joist spans-with concrete pier and abutments and concrete deck.

No. 57 Sanson-Palmerston North Highway.—San&on-Awahuri (Manawawatu County): On this section 6 miles 60 chains have been widened and prepared for paving by tho Manawatu County, and 71 chains of bituminous concrete have been completed by contract. This pavement is laid in one course, 18ft. wide and 2i inches in thickness after rolling. Awahuri-Polmerston North (Kairanga County): 31 miles have been prepared for paring by increasing the foundation metal and building up the shoulders. One mile 20 chains of bituminous concrete have been completed by contract. This pavement is tho same type as placed on tho Manawatu County section of this highway and work is being done by the same contractor.

No. 55 Greatford-Woodville via Deriding and Ashhurst Highway.— Oroua County Section: On this length two reinforced concrete bridges, Swamp Creek and McDonnell’s were completed Each bridge consists of one 20ft. span x 18ft. roadwav.

No. 53 Kimbolton-Apiti Highway: Pohangina County Section: A devia-. tion 12 chains in length has been formed and metalled by the Pohangina County. This deviation has eliminated a very dangerous corner