Concrete Roads
and Their Construction

 IN THE UNITED KINGDOM—PROVINCIAL 13 Joints.—There are no transverse joints, the end of each section being finished with a vertical face, and the concrete of the next section butted up against it. At the sides the construction presents a feature which appears to be a novelty. Between the longitudinal edge of the road slab which runs underneath the kerb (to which reference will be made later) and the outer edge of the footpath foundation a space of 2 in. was left. This formed a groove or trench 2 in. wide and 8 in. deep, running under the kerb the whole length of the roadway on each side, so that should there be any lateral expansion in the concrete a 2-in. space is provided in which such movement can take place. This is seen in the section, Fig. 7. Fig. 7.—Transverse section of the concrete road in Northbrook Street, Newbury. On the right is a double kerb, necessitated by the higher level of that side of the street. Finish.—The surface was not floated, but tamped with a cam- bered iron-shod screed, 2 in. by 9 in. The surface obtained is very fine from the point of view of “ grip ” for horses and motor- vehicles. Surfacing.—Traffic was kept off each portion for one month, and the road was tarred and gritted the day before being opened to the public. Camber.—A fall of 1 in 50 is allowed from centre to side, and the flatness of the finished concrete portion, with its consequent freedom from skidding, is very striking when compared with the camber of the original road. Footpaths.—The footways practically throughout the town are of concrete, laid in situ in slabs 6 ft. wide with |-in. joints formed with wooden strips, which are left in place. Those in the main street have been down for 23 years and are in remarkably good condition. In some cases the aggregate was composed of gravel and in others of granite chips.