ROAD CONSTRUCTION NOW BACK AT PRE-WAR LEVEL, SAID MR. SEMPLE

Wanganui Chronicle, 26 June 1948, Page 4

ROAD CONSTRUCTION NOW BACK AT PRE-WAR LEVEL, SAID MR. SEMPLE

(P.A.) Wellington, June 25. “More road construction is in progress than was the case at this time last year, and still more will be in progress at this time next vear,' said the Minister of Works (Mr. Semple) today. The Minister added that work on the roads today, save for bridging, which was heavily handicapped for steel and cement, which were more urgently required in hydro work and housing, was back to the pre-war level. All funds that it was physically possible to use were available. Though heavy construction was not proceeding to the same extent as before 1939. the major efforts were spread over the country to a much greater extent, he said. realised that with the limited number of contractors and limited manpower, the greatest benefit could be conferred by extending sealing, the Minister proceeded. Half-way through the last sealing season, he said, the hold-up of bitumen supplies occurred, but what seemed a satisfactory arrangement had been made for continuous supplies, and it was the policy of the Government and the Main Highways Board to give the country as much sealed surface as possible. “There is a certain shortage of reading equipment among local bodies and Government departments, despite the fact that we have more of these machines than ever before." the Minister continued. “Those machines are necessary to counter-balance the less manpower. We are obliged to put up witli this shortage in the meantime. It has become apparent that roads which were good, enough for traffic before the war will not carry the heavy traffic of today. While the restrictions on petrol, lyres and supply of motor vehicles results in little difference in the numbers compared with just before the war, the proportion of heavy passenger vehicles and trucks is much greater than 10 years ago. Providing better road foundations is making an extra charge on the general reading and Main Highway Board funds. "In the interest of the economy of the nation, these heavy vehicles must be reasonably provided for. The Government’s and the Main Highway Board's policy is to do all they can to improve road routes, thus keepin the cost of transport between areas of production and the ports to a minimum.” BULLS BRIDGE. Mr. Semple said the bridge over the Rangitikei River at Bulls and the Fern Hill Bridge,, near Taradale, were tile biggest bridging jobs undertaken for some years, and should both be completed early next year.

A new bridge has been started near Opaki to replace the old suspension bridge across the Ruamahanga River. A good deal of work was being done on the highway road round Mt. Egmont and throughout Taranaki. It was proposed, in conjunction with local bodies, to extend the sealing of roads.