ROAD TRAFFIC STILL INCREASING.
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The county surveyor of Lancashire draws attention to the fact that, in spite of trade depression, there has been a considerable increase in the number of mechanically propelled vehicles using many of the main roads during the previous year, and this will probably be still further added to when trade again becomes normal. Further, it seems to be the generally accepted opinion that the Ministry of Transport will shortly recommend a substantial increase of the present legal weights and speeds, both for commercial vehicles and motorbuses, cl I which will add very materially to the cost of maintenance of the roads.
Extensive damage has been done to water-bound macadam surfaces, even where those have been tar-sprayed, by the introduction of new regtilar motorbus services in various parts of the county. Previous experience has again been confirmed that it is hopeless to attempt to maintain these surfaces in anything like a satisfactory condition with ordinary macadam, under regular motorbus traffic. and that the money thus expended is practically wasted.
Several new services have been commenced during the past year, and. these are being added to almost every month. In consequence, greater lengths of main roads are in need of resurfacing.
The greater portion of the Liverpool and Manchester Bead has been surfaced with tar macadam during the past ten years, but the increase in number of the heavy mechanically propelled commercial vehicles using this road has been se extraordinary during the past three years that a still more expensive form of surfacing is required.