Concrete Roads
and Their Construction

50 CONCRETE ROADS with water in order that none should be drawn away from the con- crete when placed into position, and while being spread the con- crete was tamped down by shovel and rammer. The surface was obtained by means of a shaped floater or tem- plate 2 in. thick, 6 in. wide, and of a length sufficient to reach across? the portion laid. This was operated by two men, one at each end. who gripped the handles provided for the purpose, and tamped along the fresh surface until the ends of the floater rested upon boards placed at the sides at the required level. No other treatment was given to the surface, and the results obtained are considered to be very satisfactory. As regards the mixing of the concrete, great care was taken that the proportions as specified were adhered to with each batch. A gauge-box J cu. yd. capacity, with strips placed at half depth, allowed the easy gauging of the of large stone, 1| of 1-in. stone, 1| of sand, and the one part of cement ; the whole was mixed by hand, and only sufficient water added to make the mass into just a plastic state. Each portion of the road when completed was allowed to stand at least three weeks before being opened to traffic, and during that time the surface was covered with fine sand to a depth of 1-in., and continually kept damp with water. Immediately before opening to traffic the surface was brushed clean and allowed to dry thoroughly before being covered with tar brushed in by hand and gritted. Previous to this, the concrete surface was carefully inspected, and gave the appearance of being in excellent condition. Weight of Traffic.—As with all new constructions, it is the practical test which counts. This road has now been open for over 12 months, and has during that time, especially owing to the railway strike, carried excessive traffic. Two days after the opening of the first portion laid, a very heavy traction engine with three loaded trailer wagons, the whole weighing at least fifty tons, passed over it ; also, six days after, a huge piece of machinery which had to pass through the town during the night, owing to its size, the weight upon one axle being close upon twenty tons, was drawn over the new length of concrete road. Coupled with this, the continuous heavy and fully loaded motor-lorry traffic which used this road during the railway strike, it being the main trnnk road into South Wales, has undoubtedly proved that this concrete road js well able to