STREET IMPROVEMENT

Southland Times, Issue 19771, 20 February 1923, Page 5

STREET IMPROVEMENT

TARRING THE EAST ROAD. USE OF BITUMEN ADVOCATED With the object of ascertaining definitely whether tar will withstand the conditions prevailing in Southland, the Public Works Department of the Borough Council is at present tarring a portion of the East road near the Borough boundary. The first coat of tar has been spread over fifteen chains of road, and it is proposed to tar another ten chains, completing the surface from Lindisfarne road to the Borough boundary. The tar is sprayed at a temperature of about 210 degrees Fahrenheit and allowed to soak in. The approximate cost of treating the road in this manner is four pence per square yard. The portion of the road treated is that which was levelled and sheeted last year, and it is proposed to further experiment with the spraying on various portions of the Borough streets when weather conditions permit.

A man who has had considerable experience in road making expressed the opinion to a Times reporter that bitumen would suit the Southland conditions better than tar. Throughout the north they were now discarding the tar spraying for the bitumen, which was giving better results. One advantage of the bitumen system was that weather interfered litt-le with the spraying and when done the frosts and water did not effect the road surface so much. He was firmly of the opinion that bitumen would prove a greater success in Southland under the conditions prevailing than tar, while there was comparatively little difference in the cost.