MAIN HIGHWAYS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 6 July 1931, Page 2

MAIN HIGHWAYS

DISTRICT COUNCIL’S ANNUAL MEETING

REPORT ON YEAR’S WORK At. the annual meeting of the No. 11 District Highways’ Council there were present: Messrs L. M. May (District Engineer, chairman), J. Badcock (.Murchison County Council), H. .). Skilton (Collin"wood County Council). A. H. Barnett (Takaka County Council)..!. Kennington (Marlborough County Council), and W. Bullivant, in the absence of J. Corder (Waimea County Council). A detailed report on the work done during the year was presented. RICTOX-BLUFF MAIN HIGHWAY Widening and improvements of 30 chains at Pieton swamp have been completed.

Formation work on the Dashwood Pass deviation has been continued throughout the year, the length completed with necessary culverts being 3 miles 55 chains of 22 feet formation. Total length completed to date is 0 miles 2,3 chains. Tenders were invited and one accepted for the formation of a further 1 mile 20 chains. Owing to being unable to commence operations within the specified time, however, the contractor relinquished his contract and the work is now being carried on by the Public Works Department under co-operative contracts. Approximately 51 chains of lower course metalling have been laid.

The Pieton Borough has maintained gravelled roads on this section. Proposals have been approved and work is in hand on the tar sealing of 30 chains of highway. On the Blenheim Borough section of the Pieton-Blenheim highway, 70 chains were top-dressed with one coat of bitumen. -On the Blenheim-Christ-church highway, 02 chains were topdressed with one coat of bitumen. NELSON -BLENHEIM SECTION

The erection of Sncider’s creek bridge comprising one 20ft span, was completed. The reconstruction of the Wangamoa bridge has been completed. NELSON - WESTPORT HIGHWAY

In connection with the bitumen penetration of the Tabunanui section of the highway, 2 miles 10 chains of road were re-formed, and bitumen penetration and surface coats laid over a length of 1 mile 72 chains. 189 feet of concrete retaining wall were erected between the road and the cycle track. Work is still proceeding and the widening of Abattoir creek bridge is in band.

The construction of the Wairoa river bridge, ten 42ft spans in’ reinforced concrete was commenced during 192930, and has been completed during the present year. Fences have been erected and approach embankments filled and metalled.

At Godbaz creek bridge a 20ft span of reinforced concrete was completed during the year. At Norris’ gully the work in hand on tiiis deviation at the commencement of the year was a box culvert Bft by Oft. This lias been completed and approaches filled and metalled.

The Newton river bridge, consisting of one 120 ft steel truss span and two 30ft R.S.J. spans on mass concrete abutments was completed under contract during the year. On Spooner’s range to Hope saddle, the improvements to curves, widening and metalling over tiiis portion of the liiglnva y, commenced during 1929-30 as a relief work by the Public Works Department, have been completed, the total length over which improvements were carried out being approximately 9 miles 20 chains.

lii the Richmond borough the highway through the borough has been maintained by the borough council. Proposals are on foot for the three-coat sealing with bitumen of 1 mile 08.55 chains of the highway. In the Waimea county the topdressing of the section of highway to Stoke was completed. Repairs to Foxhill and Koliatu bridges were also'carried out, and grading, metalling, and general maintenance undertaken by the county throughout the year. Heavy rains and Hoods caused slips and w ashouts at various places and these were dealt with by the county. On the Murchison county, Government road, the reconstruction work necessitated on this section of the highway by the earthquake in June, 1929, was continued. Slips were cleared, deviations constructed, culverts placed, and road metalled and maintained generally. Repairs to bridges, including the Matakitaki bridge, were also carried out. The road was opened for traffic in February, 1930, and since then has been remarkably free from trouble directly due to the earthquake. RICIIMOND-PAKAWAU SECTION A bridge site at Thompson’s creek has been surveyed and plans prepared for the erection of a 40ft span in reinforced concrete. The formation of the Moutere deviation. 42 chains, was completed under contract and the bottom course of metal laid. Arrangements were then made for the Waimea County to lay the second course of metal when the road has consolidated, appropriate deductions being made from the contract price. The fencing of the Moutere deviation is being done by contract, and the work is now proceeding. MURCHISON-REEFTON HIGHWAY The Six Mile creek bridge, a. 40ft span R. S. J. on reinforced concrete cantilever abutments, concrete deck, 12ft roadway, was completed and approaches filled. A creek diversion to the bridge was also effected. Watts’ creek bridge, 20ft span on a 12ft roadway, was constructed in reinforced concrete.

' A site for a bridge over O’Connor’s creek was surveyed and plans prepared. WAKEFIELD-WOODSTOCK Floods early in the year caufscd slips and washouts on this highway. These were attended to by the Waimea County which body also carried out general maintenance of grading and metalling, and the improving of corners. TOTAL EXPENDITURE

The total expenditure for the year was as under: For maintenance: Main Highways allocation, £54,139 (expended £58,347); local bodies’ contribution, £12,750; total £71,153. (Average cost per mile on 498 miles 13 chains, £142.88 approx.; average contribution per mile by local bodies, £25.0)). For construction: Highways Fund allocation, £02,859 (expenditure £57,750) ;• local bodies contribution, £12,237; total £09,987. THIS YEAR’S ALLOCATIONS For this year the total amounts allocated to this district by the Main Highways Board are as under: —Maintenance, £40,000; construction, ordinary M.H. £25,000, secondary M.H. £OOOO. Applications received from the various local bodies concerned are ns under: Maintenance, local body contributions £19,290; Main Highways Board contribution £57,819. Construction, ioeal body contributions £2807; Main Highways Board contribution £50,357. ADDITIONAL HIGHWAYS

The Mowing resolutions were car ried:—

That unemployed labour be used on widening and generally improving the Takaka Hill.

That the District Council disapprove of the Main Highways Council’s instruction disallowing subsidy on the cartage of benzine and the supply of tools where same are used on main highways. That the rate of subsidy, paid to the Takaka County Council for the maintenance of its portion of the Takaka Hill be increased to £3 for £1 and that the rate of subsidy paid to the Waimea County Council for the maintenance of its section of the hill be increased to £4 for £l.

That the Transport Board be notified of tlie resolution passed by the District Highways Council that the Awatere County Council should not be allowed to join No. 11 Highways District for the purpose of obtaining revenue from heavy traffic fees. That the following additional highways be declared: Takaka County connecting road between East and West roads: Pu Pu springs road. Collingwood County —Pakawau to Puponga. Wainiea County—Korere to Tophouse. Marlborough County —New Renwick road; Havelock to Grove road. THE ESTIMATES The following maintenance estimates for 1931-32 were approved: —

Est. County

County. Cost. contrib. M.H.B. £ £ £ Collingwood .... 4,200 1,402 2,798 Marlborough .... 20,805 0,455 14,410 Murchison 17,655 592 17,003 Takaka 3,100 1,033 2,007 Waimea 21,845 0,000 15,185 Picton Borough 209 90 179 Blenheim Bor’h 302 121 241 Tahunanui T.B. 190 64 120 Richmond Bor’h 0,018 2,000 4,012 Motueka Bor’h 0,018 400 800 Takaka T. Bd. 750 249 501 Rocks Road .... 655 218 437 77,109 19,290 57,819