ABNORMAL LOADS AN EMBARRASSMENT
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ABNORMAL . loads were becoming an ever-increasing embarrassment to the country's narrow roads and bridges, stated Mr. J. G. Taylor, Ministry of Transport north-eastern divisional road engineer, when he spoke to the Yorkshire section of the Institute of Transport.
To adapt the railways for the movement of abnormal loads would be as costly as improving the roads for this purpose, he said. There had been a steady increase in the number, weight and size of indivisible loads which were being transported over trunk and classified roads. Some were 18 ft. high, others over 20 ft. wide or more than 120 ft. long, but the most critical were those of excessive weight.
Loads of over 50 tons were exceptional before the war. Providing for future export and other industrial demands would necessitate a large and costly programme of bridge redecking and, in many cases, even rebuilding.