Dear Editor,
I read with awe the article captioned ‘Kilned clay pilot road for careful scrutiny’ published in Stabroek News on Saturday, October 25, 2008.
This article informed readers about a very important effort at road construction maintenance. However, I took umbrage at the some of the statements therein:
“…the institute developed an extrusion method…” I am 99.99 per cent sure that the extrusion process described was not developed by the IAST. If I am wrong then the IAST should seek a patent for this innovation.
“Due to the …extensive use of sun drying, the amount of fuel used is vastly reduced from the traditional processes.” Brick-making has always used the sun for drying before insertion of the bricks into the kiln. To not adequately dry the bricks results in fissure.
“…there are several examples of fine clay roads which still exist in parts of Europe.” There are clay roads in Guyana; some are still functional while others have suffered from lack of maintenance.
These include the approach to the Demerara Habour Bridge at Bagotstown on the East Bank; at Goedverwagting, just about a mile away from Better Hope on the East Coast of Demerara; Mocha on the East Bank; and Den Amstel on the West Coast of Demerara.
The streets of Tucville, Guyhoc and Lamaha Park were of clay bricks.
I agree that scientific tests must be done, but information on clay roads here must be archived somewhere in our dear land. The approach to the harbour bridge and the road from Turning Point to Aubrey Barker Street in Tucville were subjected to all manner of vehicular traffic, hence data on clay roads, if required can become available from these.
I am sure the formulas used in the efforts of the ’70s are available, so that the properties of bricks produced then can be replicated. Thus the IAST’s efforts should be probably directed to developing bricks of similar or greater strength instead of trying to do the kind of assessments they are now doing.
In my opinion, this material should not be limited to farm to market roads, as is evident in its prior use at the harbour bridge approach and other roads, and as the Director indicated in Europe.
Yours faithfully,
Elton McRae
