Bids were called for on August 6, 1918, for the paving of the Ashland
Hill Section, but as no satisfactory bids were received the work was
undertaken by the Highway Department with State forces. This section of
paving is 4,200 feet in length, and the type of pavement laid is a
16-foot concrete, 51/2 inches thick at the sides and 61/2 inches thick at
the center. The mixture was a 1:2:31/2, and a ratio of 5.6 gallons of
water per sack of cement was used.
The average haul on material was 1.2 miles and hauling was done by means
of trucks. The cement was shipped to the job prior to the beginning of
construction and stored at convenient locations near the work.
A sixteen cubic foot Koehring mixer equipped with boom and bucket was
used for mixing the aggregate. The pavement, after being struck off, was
finished by the roller and belt method. The pavement first being rolled
from two to four times depending on the condition of the concrete and
later belted with eight and ten inch belts. The eight inch belt being
used first. A very satisfactory surface was obtained in this manner.
[Illustration: CONCRETE PAVEMENT ON ASHLAND HILL IN JACKSON COUNTY, ON
THE PACIFIC HIGHWAY NORTH OF ASHLAND. GRADED AND PAVED IN 1918]
Continuous forms were used on this work and 1/4x4 inch elastite joints
were placed at 30 foot intervals, leaving approximately two inches of
concrete above the elastite and giving the pavement the appearance of
monolithic construction. It was found that a better riding pavement
could be produced in this way as the inequalities at joints were
eliminated and we believe that the use of this pavement will justify the
adoption of this type on future work.
Gravel and crushed rock shoulders two feet wide were built on this
section and the pavement was not covered while curing as the weather was
cool and damp. However, the pavement was kept wet by sprinkling when
necessary.
The crusher and roller on this work were furnished by Jackson County
free of charge.
Mr. J. M. Baker was superintendent of construction on this work.