HAMILTON TO AUCKLAND.

Waikato Times, Volume 105, Issue 17611, 16 January 1929, Page 8

HAMILTON TO AUCKLAND.

IMPROVEMENT TO ROAD. INSPECTION BY ENGINEERS. Within three months, if satisfactory weather prevails, 17 miles of the highway between .Mercer and Ohinewai will present a high-class bitumen surface. Four miles of permanent road through Huntly should also be carrying trallic within this short period. With a view to discussing complaints regarding the highway, Public Works engineers made an inspection yesterday with Mr A. Grayson, president of the Auckland Automobile Association, Messrs 11. Butcher and J. B. King, members of the council of the association, Mr K. E. Ghamptaloup, touring manager, and Mr M. 11. Wynyard, motorists’ representative on the Main Highways Board. It was pointed out by the engineers that in several instances motorists had criticised roads which were under formation, and inevitably rough. The represenatives of the Automobile Association advanced the motorists’ point of view regarding curves and visibility, and a number of suggestions were noted for reference to the Highways Board.

Whatever may have been the procrastinations in the highway scheme, little complaint can be laid at the door of the Highways Board concerning the section with which it lias full liberty. The board set an example by tackling the 17 miles length, of which it has sole control. Already 14 miles have been prepared for the 18-foot bitumen surface, and the actual formation available for traffic is 24ft. throughout. Within a few weeks of the commencement of the work IGO men were employed, and there are now 200 hands engaged. Operations at Ohinewai. On Friday the new bitumen plant supplied by the Highways Board commenced operations at Ohinewai. An 18-foot semi-penetration surface is being laid at the rate of about 10 chains a day, but later it is hoped to average over half-a-mile of bitumen work daily. Under favourable weather the section of 4? miles between Ohinewai and Rangiriri will be paved within three weeks, and the sealing will then continue over the Rangiriri deviation. Metal is being used on the work at the rate of 180 cubic yards a day. An experimental 12-foot strip of sealed surface was laid on three miles of the Rangiriri deviation some time ago and within a few weeks a start will be made with the sealing of three-loot shoulders to bring the section up to the 18-foot standard.

“ Auckland motorists are prejudiced against bitumen, but Ibis road will be an eye-opener,” stated Mr Wynyard yesterday. Several substantial bridges are included in the scheme and tenders will be called shortly. Criticism By Motorists. Attention was drawn yesterday to a section of the Rangiriri deviation across a swamp which has been strongly criticised by motorists. The surface is now in good condition, but in the past the traveller might have been excused for concluding that maintenance had been neglected. An explanation of the technical difficulties which have been experienced with this section given by an engineer yesterday showed that the road was not bad through any paucity of labour. It was pointed ouf that the road is literally a filling floating on a swamp. Some semblance of consolidation has at last been secured. The Main Highways Board will inspect the Great South Road early in February and the programme affecting the local bodies will then be discussed.