THE ROADING PROBLEM.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 166, 18 April 1916, Page 4

THE ROADING PROBLEM.

Concrete Formation Advo* cated. The part that concrete is playing in the making of permanent country roads in America forms the subject of a booklet just issued by the Wilson's Portland Cement Company, Limited, and a 6tudy of the information contained therein is well worthy the attention of local authorities. A preface to the publication is as follows ;

" The general impression in this country (New Zealand) is that concrete is too expensive for ordinary road making because it is thought that it must be covered with a wearing surface of wood blocks, asphalt, or some other mateiial to prevent slipping and other supposed disadvantages. As a matter of fact, it has been proved in actual practice that a concrete road is better and less slippery without these coverings, even on grades that would be unsafe with some of them. Many of the best concrete roads that have been constructed, and many hundreds of miles of them are now in use, have no covering of any kind beyond the bare concrete, the surface of which is sometimes roughened by drawing a birch broom across it while it is still soft. In most cases it is finished off with special wooden floats, which give the surface a smooth, yet holding, finish. " When one considers that the making of a water-bound macadamised road requires pretty well all the essentials necessary for the making of a concrete road, except cement — i.e., graded broken stones or gravel, sand or screenings, the preparation of the sub-grade or foundation, the providing of proper drainage, rolling, top dressing, and so forth—it will be realised that the comparative cost should not be so very much in favour of macadam, and actual experience proves that it is not. ''Concrete roads, as a rule, cost a little more, of course, because the work requires more care, takes more time, and more skilled labour ; but, without taking into consideration the great advantages of the concrete road—such as the absence of dust, the absence of mud, the smoothness of travelling, the saving in haulage and horseflesh, and the general allround comfort because of the advantages—the saving in upkeep alone will pay for the difference in the cost of construction in a very short time. In 30 years the road will still be there, and the saving to the community in maintenance costs in that time will have made it a very cheap road indeed."