The New Great Western Road.
Page 13
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The acceleration of Work upon the new western highway, between a _point near Kew Bridge and a point west of Hounslow, has already been mentioned by us. It is one of the in dications of official activity to take timely steps to the end that the effects of unemployment shall be lightened in their -severity. We have pleasure in reproducing herewith, by
the courtesy of Mr. H. T. Wakelam, M.Inst.C.E., the county surveyor of Middlesex, the official plan of the line of the new roadway. The accompanying photographs have been specially taken by our own photographic staff.
The progress of the Middlesex County Council Bill was followed closely by us in our pages for some weeks—issues of the 16th July to the 6th August inclusive. We may men tion, incidentally, that we have not yet been able, owing to the sudden outbreak of European war, to complete the report of the debate on the third reading of the Bill in the House of Lords, but we are hopeful to make space for the completion of that report before long, as a matter of record. The opposition of the Roads Improvement Association, acting in the name Of important national organizations representing all classes of road users, was directed against the principle of a reversion to local tolls.
This highway, which will be slightly more than five miles in length, apart from its connection by one branch, will be a new construction throughout. It will have a heavy founda tion, to snit modern traffic, with 6 in. of concrete above the foundation, and the running surface will be constructed of wood blocks or asphaltic material. The only cartoon which was exhibited in the committee rooms of the House of Commons and the House of Lords showed wooden blocks. The suggestion that such a highway will suffer twice as much under motorbus traffic as does any London highway is, of oourse, preposterous, but the Middlesex authorities probably took an indirect method of obtaining powers to recoup them
selves for earlier damage to water-bound macadam roads. This action, to our mind, was both retrogressive and spiteful.
We trust to see it upset and nullified by the Joint Committee of both Houses of Parliament, which committee will, when international matters have been settled, proceed with its investigation of all matters concerning motorbus traffic upon ootrunon roads.
The new highway will be 80 ft. wide overall, and will provide a 50 ft. carriageway. The drains, water pipes, gas mains
and electric cables will all be laid under the footways, and
there will be no breaking up of the surface of the road. It is anticipated that much motorcar and other through traffic
will use the new highway, but it is improbable that the motorbus companies will use it until some adjustment is made in respect of the authorized toll of Id. per omnibus-mile. There will, for some years to come, probably be but little passenger traffic offering, seeing that the new highway will run through a district which has yet to be populated and we ourselves believe that the Middlesex County Council will have to offer a bonus to the motorbus companies to establish services upon rt. The scheme will necessitate a steady expenditure, largely on wages. The total cost will exceed £500,000; of this, 75 per cent. comes from motor taxation.