Concrete Roads
and Their Construction

CHAPTER IV CONCRETE ROADS IN OTHER COUNTRIES New Zealand Passing now to the use of concrete for roads outside the United Kingdom, the experience gained in New Zealand calls for attention, and the following information is based on a paper read by Mr. Walter E. Bush, M.Inst.C.E., City Engineer, Auckland, before the Roads and Transport Congress held in London in November, 1919. He stated his “ belief in the future of concrete paving for climates like that obtaining in Auckland, especially as motor traction would tend more and more to replace horse traction in the future, and in respect to a number of streets he gave alternative estimates for paving such streets in compressed asphalt, wood block, stone setts and concrete. Tt was not, however, until the latter end of 1915 that the City Council authorized him to put down, the first cement concrete pavement in the city, although cement concrete founda- tions had been put under all paved streets. “The measure of success met with in the first street has led to its increasing use, and practically all streets that have since been per- manently paved have been carried out in cement concrete. “By March, 1919, some 35,000 yds. in all had been completed, 14,000 yds. were in hand, and an additional 135,000 yds. had been authorized.” The following are some short particulars regarding three of the streets laid in Auckland, according to information furnished by Mr. Bush in his paper at the above-mentioned Congress :— Little Queen Street.—This street is 423 ft. in length, and lying almost due north and south, thus exposing it to the sun’s rays for the middle part of the day, which means that in summer-time the surface temperature is often as high as 120° F., and may sometimes exceed that. Its mean elevation is 9 ft. above sea level, and it