The Monmouth inquirer., 1925-06-11
CONCRETE ROAD
ORDERED TORN UP
State Finds Skimplng of Inch and
Half Some Places on AbSeCon
Boulevard.
THREE INSPECTORS RESIGN
Bridge and Road Materials Themes
Of Investigations in Exhaustive
ExaminatIon-oth Highway
Affairs.

Trenton-The Absecon boulevard
In Atlantic county, which the Allan
tic freeholders proposed to pave with
asphalt blocks until restrained from
doing so by the courts, gained addi-
tional notoriety when the state High
way Commission decided to demand
that parts at least be torn up because
of skimping in the use Of concrete.
The commission also decided to
permit three inspectors who had been
engaged on the job to tender their
designations in lieu of more drastic
action.
The contract for the boulevard was
awarded by the Atlantic county free
holders. Following the court pro-
ceedings, which upset the original
plan for asphalt blocks, the commits
sion decided to contribute $4,000 to-
ward the cost OF the boulevard. this
giving the state a share in the re-
sponsibility for its proper construc-
ton
Major William G. Sloan, state high
way engineer, informed the commits
sion that cores taken from various
areas in the pavement indicated only
four and a half inches Of concrete in
some places, instead of six inches, as
required by the specifications. He
said the borings had not fully dis
closed how much of the concrete is
below the standard.
The boulevard contract is for six
inch concrete base forming the
foundation for top covering OF as
phalt. The original contract for as
phalt blocks was for $935,OO0. The
present contract for concrete with
asphalt top is $4,000.
Commissioner Abraham Jelin ad-
vised the board that the detour estab-
lished to permit the construction of
e oper bridge over the Navesink
river, near Red Bank, is too narrow
properly to accommodate the heavy
summer traffic between the northern
sections of the state and short points.
He expressed the belief that a detour
should be established SO that traffic
from northern points will be turned
to the left from Route to Oceanic
and thence to Sea Bright. The traf-
fic is now diverted to the right over
Tramp Hollow road to pass through
Red Bank.
Mr.. Jelin advocated a division in
traffic so that passenger vehicles
travelling southwark could reach their
destination by avoiding the present
detour. The route he suggested is Of
hard surface, with the exception of
quarter of mile from Route to
Oceanic. This part he thought should
be improved The commission direct
ed the engineering department to in
vestigate the laying out Of better
route and to report.
]. e. Their, supervisor of roads in
Bergen, told the commission it was
believed the forty-foot width could
not be obtained by an expenditure of
100000 by the county and asked
sanction for narrower road. Com
missioner Walter Kidde said the traf-
tic would demand forty feet of road
way and suggested that right of
way could be obtained at better
price now than at some later date.
Under the proposed agreement Ber-
gen county would furnish a right Of
way from the Hackensack city line at
Terrace avenue to the Meadow road
in Rutherford, on new location east
of the present highway, for distance
Of four miles. The commission is also
to take over the remainder of Route
IL from the south end of the relocated
road to the Belleville turnpike at
Kearny. The present route extends
from Rutherford to Kearny by way of
Rutherford avenue and Ridge road.
A request Of the Bergen freeholders
for an allowance Of $4,000 toward the
paving Of Shaler boulevard by Ridge
field borough was referred to Commits
sioner Kidde for investigation. The
freeholders want to pave the boule-
Routes 10 and IS. The commission
will ask the freeholders to hasten the
work of building cutoff at Fort Lee.
The commission appropriated $4,000
for this work, but announced the
money would be withdrawn unless
Fort Lee and the Bergen freeholders
contribute the remainder.
A decision of the Somerville au-
thorities to insist upon that munich
pality being allowed to enter into a
separate contract for the extra width
to be placed on Route is in the paw
ing between Royce Valley and Somer-
vile threatens to delay that under
taking. The commission will insist
upon the usual practice Of letting the
contract and charging pro rata
share.
A delegation from South Jersey
urged the commission to improve per-
manently all or part Of Route is.
south from Woodstown to Downs
town. Salem county. They were in
formed that no money was available
for such an extensive project this sea
son. The gravel road on the route,
however. will be oiled
Paving Contract Probe
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