AUSTRALIAN ROADS

Southland Times, Issue 19478, 30 March 1922, Page 7

AUSTRALIAN ROADS

AMERICA’S SHORT LEAD. MACADAM AS A BASE. The fact that Australia is not far behind America in the matter of road construction was pointed out by Mr George C. Warren, of America, in an interview with a representative of the Sydney Daily Telegraph. Messrs George C. Warren, chairman of the executive committee, and Ethelbert Parker, general superintendent of Warren Brothers Company, of America, ai£ at present, on a visit to Australia for the purpose of making a close study of roads. Both have devoted their lives to practical road construction problems. Their organisation, which is doing business in every state of the United States, including Hawaii, and every province of Canada, is the originator of, and specialises in, the construction of Warrcn.it e-Bitulithic roads, which have been investigated by many Australian visitors to America. Among works of this company is the Columbia River Highway, which is over 200-miles long. AUSTRALIA’S ADVANTAGE. “When we consider,” said Mi- Warren, “that’ modern country road development in America is limited to the past 20 years, and that of this about seven years have been lost to the world through war and past-war conditions, it will be seen that Australia is not far behind America, and has the advantage of what America has learned. “Australia has the natural advantage of relief from the rigorous climatic conditions which prevail in most of America, and the added industrial advantages that in most of the cities and suburban districts Australia has a larger proportion of mileage of macadam roads, affording a superior foundation to most of the old American roads. “The first national recognition in the United States of the good roads problem was in 1889, when Congress appropriated 10,000 dollars for investigation and enlightenment on road matters, including a very meagre salary to its then appointed ‘Director of the Office of Public Roads.’ “That was the extent of annual national interest in road development until about seven years ago, when the U.S. Congress made a substantial appropriation to join the several States in building selected state and inter-state highways, by paving half of the cost. This appropriation has steadily increased, until for the past three years it has been 150,000,000 dollars per annum, and every piece of available road machinery, practical road organisation, and labour are about as busy as they can be. In addition, the States, counties (which correspond to Australian shires), and cities are expending vast amounts in the construction of country roads and municipal streets. “May I suggest,” added Mr Warren, “that before Australian roads will become adequate for Australia’s development, it will be necessary for the Commonwealth to liberally assist in the building of national and State highways, as the United States has found it necessary to do.” MOTOR TRAFFIC. “Recently,” continued Mr Warren, “the American Automobile Association, referring to ‘America’s Billion Dollar Tyre Bill,’ called attention to the fact that the cost of America’s auto tyres (40,000,000 dollars) was greater than its expenditure on roads. A moment’s reflection will show the importance of improved road construction in reduction of mileage cost of tyres, as well as automobiles, and everything that goes into their maintenance and operation. “Fifteen years ago there began in America road development under changed traffic conditions which are now imminent in Australia—the rapid introduction of motordriven against the former prevailing horsedrawn vehicles. The macadam roads of Australia, had been the pride of the country, proved quite adequate as a wearing surface for the different, as well as more exacting, motor traffic. “There are two cardinal principles which should be followed in the much-needed road reconstruction of Sydney:— “(1) As far as possible conserve the millions which have already been expended in the macadam roads to meet past traffic conditions. “(2) Adopt a substantial, stable-wear-ing surface, which long experience has proved to be adequate to meet modem traffic conditions. , “For 20 years in America the organisation I represent has been directly connected with the construction of approximately 70,000,000 square yards, equal approximately to 4000 miles of roadway of an average width of 30ft. About half of this construction involved the utilisation of macadam roads as a foundation or base. “Development in America has abundantly proved beyond reasonable question that old macadam roads, such as exist in Australia, can be conserved and utilised to provide foundation for a substantial bituminous stone-wearing surface. “Travellers from Australia to New England will remember Boston’s leading street, Commonwealth Avenue, now carrying a traffic of over 14,000 vehicles daily. This road was re-conditioned in 1915, the old macadam base, which at- that time was in a condition similar to that of the worst of the streets of Sydney, being retained. The new pavement has already more than paid for its cost through saving of expenditure on maintenance. No repairs have been effected during the seven years it has been down, and there is no sign of wear on the pavement to-day. “I am confident,” concluded Mr Warren, "of the adequacy of old macadam as a foundation for a substantial wearing surface. Australia has ideal climatic conditions, and such as are conducive to the satisfactory’ construction and longevity of its thoroughfares.”