IMPROVING BROADWAY

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 149, 16 August 1911, Page 3

IMPROVING BROADWAY

TARRED macadam strongly RECOMMENDED. MR MACKAY’S REPORT. 1 uclucled in (he scheme of improvements for which the Borough Council proposes to raise a loan is Iho improvement of Broadway; and mcontly i\!r J. R. Maekay was requested to report to the Council on the best method of paving it. This report was. ieeeivod at last night’s meeting of the Council and was hold over until the next occasion on which the loan proposals are discussed. The report is as follows: In compliance with the instructions of your Council, I have the honour to report on the best and most economical method of improving the surface of Broadway. in preparing this report I have taken into consideration the providing of a good wearing surface that will lie comparatively free from dust, will he easily kept clean and sanitary,.and will, in combination with these desirable qualities, he the cheapest and best method. Among the methods most commonly in use in large cities are wood-block-ing and asphalting with Trinidad or similar stone, the former method being in use iu Wellington and the latter in Auckland in the principal thoroughfares. These two methods would, however, he entirely beyond the financial means of Stratiord borough, as they would be far too costly. The next best and cheaper method is what is known as “tarred macadam,” and I think this would be the most economical and best method of obtaining the desired result. It has been in use now in several towns in New Zealand for a number of years and, where laid properly, has given very great satisfaction. Attempts have been made in various parts of New Zealand to surface already metalled roads and streets with tar, either painted on by hand or sprayed by machine, but they have been only temporarily successful and do not tend to materially improve the wearing surface. They have, however, proved useful in keeping down dust, but the constant need and cost of renewing the surface has caused the abandonment of this method in most places. “Tarred macadam” therefore appears, from the experience of other places in first cost and durability, to he the most satisfactory method of surfacing streets iu towns where the cost of woodblocking or aspbaltmn surfacing would , be considered prohibitive. I have, therefore provided, iiiiMiiy estimate,, for so treating the portion of Broadway between \ ictnria Bridge and Regan, Street, a distance of. approximately twenty-two chains. With a view to ascertaining the present thickness of metal on Broadway, along this portion, I have had the metal cut at various places both in the centre and at the sides, and it lie! that the average depth of metal along the centre: is 10 inches, along the east side 9 inches, and along the west side 6 inches. i have also measured the cahibrc of the metal from watevtable to watertahlc in a number of places and find that, almost throughout, the roadway is too high in the centre'and also too Hat on the top of the camhro, resulting iu the centre portion being kept more or less wet and sloppy after rainy weather. Also, in several places, the centre of the camhro is a, considerable distance frrim the centre of the roadway, and to remedy these defects it will he first necessary' to ro-camhre tiie metal. It will also ho necessary to remove a certain amount of the metal to make room for the coating of “tarred macadam.”

With regard to the thickness of coaling of “tarred macadam” required, I consider that, owing to the width of the road in Broadway being 75 feet compared to io feet or less in most New Zealand towns, and lo the consequent better and wider distribution of loads which pass over it, and also to the fact that the “tarred macadam” will he laid on an already well-consolidated surface, a coating of three inches thick when consolidated with a steam roller will be ample to carry the traffic frequenting Broadway. Jn preparing the existing surlaco of Broadway to receive this coating - , a considerable quantity of metal will have to he removed and carted away. The metal should be loosened with a scairificr and, as it is all good metal, it can he used very well in metalling other streets in the borough. It would not ho sufficiently clean to use for “tarred macadam.” The amount of metal to lie so removed L estimate at 15U0 cubic yards, and for use in other streets its value should be at least os per cubic yard. 1 consider it would ho equitable to credit this amount against the estimated cost of the new work. I estimate that, to remove the old metal, true up tiie camhro of the roadway, and coat with three inches (compressed) “tarred macadam,” the portion of Broadway covered by this report (22 chains) would cost £2OOO. If the metal removed for other use is allowed for at os per cubic void, | this estimate will ho reduced by :C *5 70. The cost of upkeep of “tarred macadam” streets, when properly laid, has been found to ho very light, and as the traffic along Broadway, owing lo its width, will be distributed over a largo surface, the wear should be very little, so that re-surfacing will reqniie to be done only at long; intervals. No allowance has been made for any alterations that may he required in water mains nr sowers, owing to alteration of surface, hut these mains and sowers and their connections should he deep enough not to he in(nfoicd with in cairyiug out tin work. It is also considered that the rolling and scarrilying will ho done 1 by steam power. The cost of plant

for hearting the tar and, if necessary, drying the stone, would roughly 1)0 £2OO, but as this plant would be of further use for future work or for sale, it has not been allowed tor. The above estimate may be used as a rough basis for estimating the cost nf treating other portions of Broadway, similarly metalled (say from Gelia Street to N ictnria Bridge, and from Regan Street northwards to the end of the full-width metalling) but will not apply to the portions, such as opposite the Eire Brigade station, where the metalling is confined id a central strip only. Should yolir Council require any further information on this matte), 1 will he pleased to comply, as far as I am able, with its requirements.