HOLIDAY MOTOR TRAFFIC

Waikato Times, Volume 105, Issue 17611, 16 January 1929, Page 5

HOLIDAY MOTOR TRAFFIC

TEST FOR COUNTY ROADS. ENGINEER’S BUSY PERIOD. WORK IN WAIKATO RIDINGS. “The exceptionally heavy holiday traffic on the Hamilton-Rotorua main highway has made it vers’ rough in places, but the graders have been kept going and it is now in fair order, states Mr A. A. Woodward, engineer, in his monthly report to the WaUato County Council, which, was adopted at yesterday’s meeting. “The tar-sealing work commenced a week before Christmas has been continued since starting again after the holidays. The Tamahere straight, a distance of 1 mile and 30 chains, has been given one coat so far, and about 40 chains of this the second coat. The work completed is very satisfactory. With ordinary autumn weather I anticipate that there will be no difficulty in completing the greater pari of this road this season. Pokeno-Waihi Main Highway: The widening of several narrow fillings on this road and the replacement of several culverts is being done. This road was heavily thrashed with the holiday traffic, but any damage done has been restored and the road is in very good order.

Ohinewai-Tahuna Main Highway: Owing to the motor-roller being used on the Cambridge road I have had to make arrangements with the Piako County to hire an independent scarifier to break up the old metal. This should be on the road shortly, and the work of restoring the length of road' between Ohinewai and the Waiterimu junction will then be commenced. Hamilton-Paeroa Main Highway: This road has been several times regraded during the month, and also during the holidays. It will be necessary to put some more metal on ’he road between Eureka and the county boundary.

Te Kauwhata-Waitakaruru Main Highway: The motor-grader is regrading the unmetalled portion of this road between- Okaeria and Waitakaruru. When this is completed work will be continued towards Te Kauwhata. The length from the Great South Road to Te Kauwhata will be widened shortly and the metal scarified and re-formed.

Sedgwick’s Road: The metalling contract on this road is proceeding satisfactorily; about 50 chains has been completed and the whole work should be completed early in November. The completion of the metalling on this gap will give the Te Hoe and Hapuakohe settlers all-the-year-round connection with Orini and Taupiri. Metalling Work Continues. Whangamarino Riding roads: The work of metalling portions of Norton's road is in hand. Metal is being broken at the Long Swamp quarry for Dando’s road and Swan road. Arrangements are being made to commence the earthwork for those portions of Dozen's road which it is intended to metal this summer. Keith s road has been ploughed, and disced ready for the motor-grader, which will be used to re-grade the level portions. Kopuku Soldier Settlement road has been repaired. About eight chains of metalling will be done on this road as soon as possible. Huntly Riding roads: The work of re-forming Foote’s road is completed; about 40 chains of this road has been formed. The metal from Te Hoe towards Orini has been repaired, and in spite of the heavy motor traffic to Duck’s Hill, is in good order. New Bridge Ready. Taupiri Riding roads: The new bridge over the Soldiers’ Settlement drain on the Ten-foot road has been completed; the approaches are being filled in and the bridge should be open for traffic in about a week. Proposals for forming and metalling, the reemaining portion of the Ten-foot road and one mile of Henry’s road have been forwarded to the Public Works Department for approval. As soon as these are returned this work will be commenced.

Rototuna Riding roads: The work of grading Forsman’s road to where it crosses the drain towards Horsham Downs has been done, the settlers concerned doing some of the work of ploughing and discing. As soon as possible a bridge will be built over the drain so that the road can be opened up to Boyd’s road. Sainsbury's road has been re-graded and a portion reopened. The work of grading Gray’s road is proceeding. Ruakura Riding roads: Several improvements have been done to sharp corners in this riding. A length of tiic Telephone road to Mr Speedy’s properly has been scarified and regraded, and this will be sanded as soon as possible. Tamahere Riding roads: Preparations are being made to open the quarry as soon as possible, as metal is urgently required on several roads. All the bituminous roads in Itiig riding have been sanded and kept attended to during the hot weather. Cambridge Riding roads: The roads in this riding have been well maintained during the month. About 50 chains of Swayne’s road have been re-graded and. metalled from Dougherty’s pit. Some repairs have been done to Hannon's road and Church road.