ROAD CONSTRUCTION.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 April 1926, Page 4

ROAD CONSTRUCTION.

EGMONT COUNTY WORK. VIGOROUS POLICY PURSUED, The vigorous policy of road and bridge construction that has been adopted by the Egmont County Council was shown in a statement submitted by the engineer (Mr. F. M. Corkill) at yesterdays meeting of the council, giving particulars of the main items of work carried out last year. That this progressive policy is to be continued during the coming year was shown, by the plan of work set down by the engineer and adopted by the council. The report showed that during the year bridges had been erected as follows: Taimgatara, £4363; Teikaparua, £1554; Manganui, £200; Eltham Road, £700; Namu Road, £450. Bridges designed, approved and ready for construction were: Pungareere, Rahotu Road, £1100; Mangahume, £1900; Waiau. £550; Punehu, £1200; making a total of £11,967

The following culverts (as well as others) required better foundations:— Koteoteo. Okewau No. 1 and 2, £450; Mangaone, £5O; Teikaparua bridge, £500; Matanehunehu, £5O; Wairongomai. £100; near Oaoiti, £75; Puhinu, £5O; Waiteiaka, £5O; Oeo, £110; Warner’s, £5O; a total cost of £1475.

During the year ten main road culverts had been .replaced in the Rahotu riding, three in, 1 the Opua. and four in the Oeo riding. On the roads six miles and 65 chains of the main road had been reconstructed, and on the Pateki Road 40 chains, the Hone Road 23 chains, Watino Road 68 chains, Bayly Road 103 chains. Cape Road 35 chains, a total of 3 miles and 74 chains. This length had been metalled with crushed metal. In addition to ordinary maintenance, the Kahui Road. 99 chains, Kaweora Road, 50 chains, and Opourapa Road, 59 chains, a total of 2 miles 48 chains, had been treated with pit metal, making a total of 13 miles 27 chains of new road, which had been metalled. In addition, 52 chains of new formation had been done, comprising Arawhata Road (9 chains), Tepoka Road (13 chains), Kaweora Road (30 chains). The engineer referred to the work proposed to be carried out in connection with the main road construction for next year. At present, he said, there had been reconstructed about eight miles, viz., 7J miles on the Main South Road, and about three-quarters of a mile near Pihama. The contractors still had a mile and three-quarters to complete between Rahotu and Opunake, which would mean that 9J miles would be completed this year. That left 27J miles yet to be done to complete the 37 J miles in the county. The present contractors had a further mile and a quarter on the Main Softth Road!, and five miles on the Eltham Road to! complete their contract, and he recominended that their contract should bp increased to give another 3| miles oh the Main South Road, giving them five miles to do on each road. The contractors were prepared to accept that extension, and had promised to put in further plant. He also suggested that the council call tenders for other contracts to reconstruct four miles of the Main South Road, starting from the Taranaki County boundary at Puniho and four miles of the Eltham Road, starting at the Taungatara River and working towards Te Kiri. The programme was an ambitious one, as it would mean laying down 18 miles of road, but he thought it could be done. After consideration the council decided to approve of the extension of the present contract by 3J miles, and also to call tenders as suggested for four miles of metalling on the Eltjiam Road, from the Taungatara Hoad towards Awatuna, and four miles of the Main South Road, from Puniho, with the option, in the latter races, of extending to Rahotu.