ROAD SURFACES IMPROVED

Southland Times, Issue 24437, 17 May 1941, Page 4

ROAD SURFACES IMPROVED

WORK IN SOUTHLAND COUNTY

“The weather in April was reasonably good for this time of the year, and the additional moisture has resulted in an improvement in the surfaces of the gravelled roads, and, except for isolated stretches, the corrugations are diminishing,” said the Southland County engineer (Mr G. R. Milward) in his report to the county council at its meeting yesterday on the progress of work during April. Good progress was made on the various bridges in. the course of construction, Dawson’s bridge, on the Invercargill-Fortrose highway, being completed, also Watson’s culvert on Counsell road and Mclntyre’s culvert on Wilson’s Crossing road. Good progress had been made with the Mataura river bridge, Wyndham, the concrete piles for the east abutment and three piers having been driven. The concreting of the eastern abutment and one pier was now being carried out. On the Otapuni Creek bridge, Inglewood road, the abutments had been built, and the false-work constructed for the spans. The contractor for McCrostie’s culvert, Spar Bush Bay road, was making slow progress because of the shortage of labour. The Otamita stream bridge, Mandeville Retreat road, was almost finished, only the handrails remaining to be done. The installation of the concrete pipe culvert and road reconstruction on the Kennington-Waikawa highway, between Fortrose and Tokanui, had been completed and passed. The contractor for the concrete culvert on the Wai-mahaka-Fortification highway had made a start. The county bridge gang with the assistance of labour from Oreti riding had carried out the shifting of the Oreti River bridge on the Mount Nicholas-Burwood road, to a point further upstream. The old piles had been withdrawn without difficulty, and the work was completed in a satisfactory manner, although adverse weather was encountered.

“The regrading of Dawson’s Hill was carried out, and the reconstruction of the Winton-Gore highway, Hedgehope to Waitane, advanced a further stage. Work on Gray’s deviation was completed, but there is still further work to be carried out through the bush. Work on the Croydon-Retreat road is almost completed, except for the finishing touches. The following contracts were passed during the month:—Maintenance: Mokotua-Gorge district roads; Makarewa-Myross Bush district roads; Hedgehope district roads; Glencoe district roads. Gravelling.—McKenzie road, Lochiel. Formation.—Miller and McDowell road. Metalling.— Curio Bay road. Widening.—TitiroaMataura Island road.” A detailed report on the progress of work in the various ridings was also submitted by Mr Milward.