GREAT SOUTH ROAD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18946, 18 February 1925, Page 11

GREAT SOUTH ROAD.

PLANS FOR RECONSTRUCTION.

APPORTIONMENT OF COST-

HIGHWAY BOARD TO PAY HALF.

The position of the Mannkaa Comity Council in regard to reconstruction of the Great South Road was outlined in a report presented by the engineer, Mr. J. R. Pag®, to the council yesterday. The engineer stated that in accordance with the wishes of the Highways Board, and in order to carry out the coundFs part in arranging a programme for the highway, he had attended a conference of engineers last week. He was asked to provide a plan of the longitudinal section of the road showing levels throughout the county portion, but owing to the short notice and pressure of work this could be carried out only on the PapatoetoeManurewa length. The party the road from Otahuhu to Papakura and discussed methods of construction and procedure. Summarising the position, the engineer stated : " The Highways Board will contribute 60 per cent, of the cost of constructing a carriageway 18ft. wide with shoulders 4ft. wide on each side, a total of 26ft. Any footpaths or other works desired outside the 26ft must be carried out without contribution from the board. The road must be regraded where required, but without disturbing of present foundations, proper provision for drainage made, a foundation course of not less than Tin. of consolidated metal provided, and a wearing course of 2m. of bituminous-concrete, '.hot-mix,' finally laid. '*

It had been suggested that local bodies should cany out grading and foundation work, and that the Highways Board should, with its own plant, lay the " hotmbc " course. The next step therefore, rested with the local bodies, who mast prepare and submit to the board estimates of the cost of their portion of the work. The board could then m tern submit an estimate of the cost of finishing the work, and the local bodies wonld be in a position to submit proposals to ratepayers for financing the scheme. The chairman of the council, Mr. F. M. Waters, said he had always understood the depth of " hot-mix " was to be 3in. The engineer replied that the matter had been gone into very fully at the conference and it was concluded that a consolidated depth of 2m. would be sufficient for many years to come. Speaking of the cost of the scheme, the engineer said it could only be given very approximately, but it was clear that even with 2in. " hot-mix " it was going to cost more than £4OOO a mile, which had been used as a preliminary basis of discussion. It was made clear that the Highways Board would contribute half the cost of laying down the road from start to finish. The chairman said that when the local bodies and the board had prepared their estimates a proposal to raise the necessary sum would be put before the ratepayers. The Manukau county was in a difficult position because it had to prepare estimates for a longer strip of the road than the other three bodies together. The engineer said he thought he could have the estimates ready in two weeks. He was directed to prepare the estimates and plans and submit them to the Main Highways Board.