Kimbolton Road Sealing Progress

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 64, 17 March 1938, Page 8

Kimbolton Road Sealing Progress

ENGINEER’S REPORT At yesterday’s meeting of the Kiwitea County Council a report -was received from the council’s consulting engineers, Alessrs. Seaton, Sladden and Pavitt, on the reconstruction and sealing of Kimbolton road main highway from Coulter’s Line to Kimbolton township. The report stated as follows: “The contracting company having notified that it was unable to carry on, the direct control of the work was taken over by us on the 17th in accordance with arrangements made, and the Highways Board has notified its approval of the arrangements. Immediate steps were taken to procure the use of plant adequate for proper prosecution of the work and good progress has been mad a under Air. Hallman who was placed in charge. Completion of preparation work in manageable lengths has been followed by priming and by the 14th inst. there had been primed a total length of two miles 66 chains southwards. It is contemplated that a further section to Bryce’s Line at SAI 60 will have been prepared and primed by Wednesday evening, leaving only 1 mile 68 chains to do. Preparation work and priming of this should bo completed within a fortnight. Arrangements for sealing have been competed and a commencement is expected to be made early in the coming week, and if weather conditions remain favourable there is every prospect of completing the sealing within a month. “We may remark in respect to this contract that the unfortunate difficulties and the somewhat slow progress of the contracting company have led to a certain amount of adverse criticism as affecting the ratepayers’ interests, such criticism has not been well founded. Under any circumstances the sealing could not have been completed earlier than this season and the longer period taken in construction and preparation has enabled more thorough consolidation of fillings and roadbed, while the road surface has been maintained at quite a good standard right through. “A most important aspect, moreover, is that notwithstanding unavoidable difficulties, the ratepayers will, through the prudent administration of the council and its engineers, have the work completed without exceeding the funds provided. ” The council in receiving tho report agreed to the recommendation of Mr. Sladden to divert traffic when necessary during the progress of the sealing operations.