DIFFICULT PROBLEM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26413, 18 March 1947, Page 4

DIFFICULT PROBLEM

CENTRAL OTAGO ROADS EFFECTS OF WIND AND WEATHER TAR-SEALING PROGRAMME “There is no question of Otago not receiving its fair share of funds for expenditure on highways,” the Otago representative of the Highways Board told the Daily Times yesterday when recent complaints about the state of Central Otago roads was referred to him. “We can get all the money we are able to spend, but we are held up by lack of man-power and plant. Nevertheless, we have a substantial sealing programme arranged for Central Otago for next summer.” It was explained that the chief reason for the present state of the Central Otago roads was the extremely dry weather. It was almost impossible to keep the highways in order as all the “ fines ” were lost, blowing away in clouds of dust. How to keep unsealed roads in order in dry weather was a problem throughout the world, he stated. Sealing was the only answer, and as much as possible under the present conditions was being put in hand in Central Otago. \Few complaints were received about Central Otago roads in the winter when the wet weather enabled the surface to be kept comparatively free from corrugation. Next Summer’s Plans “ I admit that Central Otago highways are by no means in first-class condition at present, especially for light cars,” the official stated. "It is a seasonal complaint when Central Otago droughts play havoc with road surfaces. We have not sufficient graders on the highways, even though there has been an improvement since last September, but even if we did have more graders there would still be bad corrugation. There is nothing left to bind road surfaces, and a day or two after the graders have passed by the cars and the dry wind have brought back the corrugations. County councils are facing just.as serious a problem with the minor roads. “We expect to do a considerable amount of sealing next summer,” he said. “It is intended to seal at least 30 miles, perhaps more. This will comprise 11 miles between Gorge Creek and Alexandra, nine between Island Block and Ettrick, eight between Lowburn and Wanaka, and four miles between Queenstown and Frankton. It is also hoped to seal a section of the Central Otago highway between Glenore and Evans Flat, just beyond Lawrence. Some of these contracts have already been let or are in the process of being let,” he added, “so that it will be seen there is every intention of big improvements being made in the near future.” Contractors’ Difficulties

It should be remembered, the 'official stated, that the Public Works Department was unable to do the work itself but called tenders from contractors. These firms could do only a limited' amount of work, for they were faced with shortages of men and machinery. It was difficult in such times as were being experienced today to get men to accept this type of work, which took them away from town and its amenities..

At present, he added, the chief bottle-neck, apart from lack of labour, was. ..crushers. Contracts had been let earlier than usual to enable contractors'to’obtain sufficient crushed metal or chips during the winter so that they could make a start on sealing early next summer.