BURST WATER MAIN

Otago Witness, Issue 3672, 29 July 1924, Page 65

BURST WATER MAIN

HOW BITUMEN ROAD BEHAVED. WELLINGTON, July 22. Another burst in the 24in main leading from the WainuL water works to Wellington occurred this morning. The main burst right in the centre of the new bitumen motor track between Wellington and Lower Hutt. This main is very old, the iron being almost eaten away in places. An area of about 150 square yards of surface was forced up in a regularly shaped dome about 12in high by the water pressure (about 150’.b to the square inch in that length of main), and then burst with long radiating cracks. The manner in which the bitumen track ballooned up before giving way to the pressure (1501 b over many square niches) is (says the Post) at least some measure of proof that a bitumen road surface laid upon the hot mix plan is remarkably Mastic. The cracked surfacing will re gathered up and put to one side until the paving season opens next month’, and will then be ~ reheated and reused, an advantage which is not to be gained by many other forms of surfacing material. In the meantime the pot hole will be filled in with metal and allowed to consolidate pending the patching of the length affected. As a bituminous road lends itself easily to jointing, it is expected that after a, month or so of traffic wear the patching will not be noticeable, and if the foundation is thoroughly solid when the patch goes down the surface will be as good as ever it was.