STREET MAINTENANCE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 90, Issue 117, 22 May 1946, Page 7

STREET MAINTENANCE

CITY WORKS AND SERVICES EXPENDITURE LAST YEAR Expenditure Q i works and services last year amounted to £56,810, compared with an estimate of £56,980, stated the city engineer (Mr. Row) m his a nual report. The total estimate for the year was under expended by £l7O. ‘With the war over it was expected that conditions affecting construction and maintenance works would soon return to normal, but this has been far from the case,” Mr. Row added. ‘Many of the works budgeted for during the year have been held up or delayed through shortages of timber, cement, bitumen and other vital supplies. Considerable delay in street works was caused by a hold up in tar supplies, and plant replacements are stiii difficult to procure. A further collapse in the Halswell Street sewer necessitated transferring men from other jobs for many weeks. In spite of these hindrances and interruptions to the normal works programme, every endeavour was macle to adhere to the total amount budgeted for, even although expenditure on individual items was in many cases substantially different to the estimated amounts. It is pleasing to report that the total expenditure was w.lhin £l7O of the estimated amount.” Items with a substantial difference between estimates and expenditure were streets, reserves, sewers, plant er.u water supply, all of which were affected by the factors already mentioned, Mr. Row stated. STREETS IMPROVED. “Though circumstances beyond our control prevented the completion of tne full programme of work which had been authorised, there was, nevertheless, substantial progress made in improving city streets and footpaths,” Mr. Row added. Total mileages to date of tar, bitumen or concrete footpaths, and tar or bi-umen-surfaced streets, are:— Footpaths: Surfaced prior to March 31, 1945, 55.1 miles; surfaced during year 1945-46, 1.1 miles; total to date, 56.2 miles.

Streets: Surfaced prior to March 31, 1945, 49.23 miles; surfaced during year 1945-46, 0.83 miles; total to date, 50.06 nf les.

The complete re-surfacing of the [Cook’s Gardens cycle track (charged under reserves) ’ was carried out during the year and it is hoped that this work, will last for many years without further expenditure. The work originally intended, and estimated to cost £BOO, consisted of breakihg up the old surface, strengthening with about two inches of stone chips impregnated with tar and bitumen, and then finished with a sand-bitumen carpet course. Before the work commenced the Athletic and Cycling Association requested the council to widen and re-shape the end curves in order to secure a standard track length. This entailed considerable extra work and the final cost of the job was £1043. Since the close of the year the Athletic Association has paid in £250 from a Government grant towards the cost of this extra work, leaving a balance of £793 to be borne by the council. The total area involved was 3462 square yards, making the unit cost 6s per square yard, made up of approximately one-third labour, ana two-thirds materials and plant,” Mr. Row stated. CREMATORIUM DRIVEWAYS. * The formation and metalling of driveways leading through the cemetery and around the crematorium were completed, and these will be scaled at the first opportunity (charged to cemetery and crematorium accounts). The length of formation and metalling was 124 chains of various widths, with a total area of 2520 square yards. A total quantity of 592 cubic yards of pit run metal was used, which gives an average loose depth of inches. The cost, including excavation, grading, metalling and rolling was £482, or 3s lOd per square yard. (On a volume basis this represents an al! in cost of 16s 3d per cubic yard of metal in place).

“Prior to the sealing of the No. 3 I ine, it was necessary to re-shape the crown, widen and strengthen the metal foundations, and take out minor inegularities in the longitudinal grade. The work was carried out in intermittent stages to allow traffic and weather to consolidate it, and extended in all from July, 1945, to February. 1946. As this work is typical of many similar jobs which may be "equired in the future, the following particulars and costs are given in pome detail:—

“Total length, 38 chains; average width, 20 feet: total area, 5620 square yards; total new metal us£d, 628 cubic yards- average loose depth new meta], 4 inches; total cost of preparation, £537; average cost per square yard, Is lid; average unit cost per cubic yard of metal used, 17s; average cost per chain, £l4 3s. WORK FOR NEW HOUSES.

“Church Lane on Durie Hill was extended through to Hutchison Street. Tins comprised formation and metalling for a distance of 2i chains, which cost £53. Tregarth Street was regraded and re-metalled for the full length of 84 chains. This required 162 cubic yards of new metal and the total cost of £lO7. Apart from street and footpath sealing, a considerable amount of metalling and formation work was carried out on new streets ter the Gocvernment Husing Department.

“General maintenance of metalled streets and footpaths received the usual attention. It is becomi ig increasingly difficult, despite the use of weed killers, to cope with grass and weeds on those streets where the residents do nothing to assist. Where residents have undertaken to keep their frontages in order, we have assisted with the i itiai clean up, have provided boil for top-dressing, and helped in ocher ways. DETAILS OF EXPENDITURE. The following tables give details of actual expenditure on works and services, compared with the estimated amount (second column): —

£ s d £ Streets and footpaths .. 19,060 S 4 20,690 Reserves 11,269 15 6 10,550 Scavenging 965 5 lo 950 Refuse collection .. ... 3,750 19 10 3,750 Sanitation l.GSO 0 4 1,700 Traffic control 1.826 5 2 1,570 Building inspection . .. 675 0 5 710 Buildings and fences .. 521 3 1 98'1 Sewers and drains .. .. 4,858 17 5 3,600 Surveys 53 14 4 120 Plant and tools .. .. 1,356 17 1 1 2.ISO River bank protection 201 4 7 150 Dublin St. Bridge . .. 1.177 13 11 940 Town Bridge Ill 14 8 110 Other bridges 4 16 8 SO Relief worlw (subsidies, transport, etc.) .. 304 14 0 300 Water Supply.—Maintenance 4.753 1G ') 4.200 Pumping .. . .. .. 720 0 0 900 Mains extension . . . . 356 12 6 706 Renewal Main Dublin St. Bridge ., .. 335 14 6 400 Pump renewals .... — <800 Cemeteries.— Maintenance 2,080 13 0 1.600 Additions to cottage . 750 15 4 Totals 56,810 3 4 36,980