N.R T.F. Appeals For Stronger Roads and Bridges
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AMEMORANDUM on roads and bridges was recently .sent to the Minister of War Transport by the N.R.T.F. It concerns the urgent need for improvements, more particularly in connection with the carriage of abnormal and indivisible loads. Apart .from strongly recommending the strengthening of roads and bridges, it asks for the repeal of the existing law requiring road operators, in certain circumstances, to give an indemnity for damage to them. All road users will, of course, benefit from improvements to such facilities, but there is imperative need for them to enable gross loads up to, and possibly exceeding, 250 tons to be moved by road.
It is important to note that there are two ways in which a load may be abnormal These are: by weight, in that it-cannot be conveyed in a standard vehicle normally designed to carry up to 15 tons; or by size, whether length, width 'or height.
The trend in industrial development in recent years has been for such loads to become both larger and heavier. This trend is likely to be accentuated;' for it is understood that the electrical manufacturing industry is already planning the production of individual articles of equipment weighing up to 210 tons, but even that is not the limit. The movement of such loads is not, however, confined to electrical equipment; there are heavy castings, boats, boilers, aeroplane fuselages and others, many required for export, and it may be found useless to manufacture the most•
efficient products becadse of transport difficulties. , The railways are able to take some heavy equipment, but owing to gauge limitations, they find it impossible to convey some of the most modern. Further, the movemeqt of such loads 11,1. rail often requires special working at week-ends and creates dislocation of normal services. There is, therefore, an increasing tendency to rely upon road transport.
On the most modern road vehicles. the weight per sq. in. on the road surface is less to-day, even with increased loads, than in the past. There is, therefore, no difficulty as regards vehicles, the main limiting factors being inadequate roads and weak bridges.
Low and narrow bridges also exist in great numbers, thereby restricting the free movement of large individual items.
The Federation further urges that immediate steps should be taken to bring all trunk roads up to a standard which will permit of their use, without restriction, by laden vehicles of the greatest weight and dimensions likely to be required by industry during at least the next 25 years, whilst at every stage provision should be made for the roads of the next similar period follow,ing that.
Similar improvements should be effected on subsidiary roads leading to all industrial and port areas.
The expense incurred in effecting improvements.would be well repaid by the rise in exports,