aberdeenshire roads

MOTORIST ON THEIR GOOD AND BAD POINTS. There has been much discussion in our columns lately regarding the condition of the Aberdeenshire roads, and the following views have been obtained by a representative of the "Journal" from a gentleman who lives in the county, and who, in the course of his business, traverses every main road in the county. He said that as a motorist doing over 6000 miles per annum he would characterise the Aberdeen county roads as very good on the whole. There were certainly some parts not what might be expected, but, he remarked, where would any motorist get an even or smooth surface from end to end of Scotland? They would find some part or other under repair, or that had only recently been repaired. The Deeside District Committee were "facing the music," and had accepted the grant from the Road Development Commissioners for strengthening and improving the Deeside roads. At the present moment the much-talked-of road between Ballater and Braemar was not in the condition it might be, but efforts were being made to improve it. In the course of a motor tour through Scotland, it was easy to detect at what point one left one county and entered another by noticing the surface of the road. For instance, on leaving Kincardineshire to enter Forfarshire the motorist interviewed stated that he increased his speed because the road surface was smooth, and in such a condition that one could move along with more safety and more comfort.

ROAD AT MURTLE. In answer to a question as to the condition of the road leading up to Deeside by Murtle, the gentleman said there was, near Murtle, a bad piece of road extending to about a quarter of a mile. Some years ago, he said, that part was experimented upon with tar, which be thought had not been satisfactory. The road at that point was very bumpy, and unsatisfactory for motorists. It had not stood the test to which it had been submitted, nor had the experiments carried out at Banchory been succesful. The reason was that the ingredients of the substance used for surfacing did not appear to suit the area in which they were laid down.

POT-HOLE ROADS. Asked if he had heard any complaints lately as to the state of the roads, the gentle man admitted that he had, but with the exception of the part of that road beyond Banchory and on to Kincardine O'Neil, what was understood as a pot-hole surface did not exist. At that part, the road was studded over with potholes. That was not altogether due to the material from which the road was made, although he thought road boards should pay more attention to the quality of the stone used. No doubt every council desired to have their roads maintained as cheaply as possible, but in many cases serious consideration was not given to the proper and superior class of stone. Stone was taken from places where it was easiest to get irrespective of quality.

BUCHAN ROADS.In a district in Buchan the road repairs were carried out by contract, the result of which was that a mixed quality of stone was used. If one cared to examine any quarry, one would find invariably that the material most easy to work was applied to the roads, and the best of the rock was allowed to remain in the quarry, although it was the very substance that should be applied to meet the altered conditions of road traffic at the present day.

ROAD DEPRESSION. With regard to road depression, he stated that the velocity of the rubber tyres of motor cars breaks the surface or crust of the road, and opened it up, thus allowing the water to settle under the metal. That naturally softened the sub-soil or road formation, and depression followed. It was, he thought, a mistake of County Councils or road authorities, in repairing pot-hole roads not to scarify and even-up the existing surface before the new metal was applied. The result of their not doing was that in these depressions a double depth of metal existed, and did not become consolidated.

REASON FOR ROUGH ROADS. Asked how the surface of the Aberdeen roads was so rough compared with those in southern counties, the motorist said it was principally through the granite used. The texture of the stone was very much rougher arid opener, with the result that - considering the climatic conditions of the county - the stone absorbed water. Then when frost came the stone was broken up and "burst." That prevented the surface from becoming so smooth as the closer or harder whinstone that was in many counties. Another point that had to be taken into account in Aberdeenshire was with regard to the effect of friction on roads. There was locally more friction, or tear and wear, on the roads than was the case in the south. The wheels of the vehicles in England were broader than those in the north of Scotland, and the horses were flat-shod and not with the long heels that existed here. If the horses in London were shod with toes and heels like they are here, the roads would last no time.

Concluding, he said the Government had appointed Commissioners to disburse the money collected from the tax on motor-propelled vehicles. That money the Commissioners expended at their discretion, and it seemed to be the thin end of the wedge for State management of the main trunk roads. That would be a step in the right direction.

Source : The Aberdeen Daily Journal Tuesday September 5th, 1911