Maintenance and Reconstruction of Colonial Route 1
         
                    Project: To rehabilitate, widen and realign where necessary
                              Colonial Route No. 1
         
                   Description:   The portion of Colonial Route No. 1 assigned to the regiment
                   for rehabilitation and maintenance extended from the outskirts of Noumea to
                   the 65-kilometer post, a distance of approximately forty miles. Route No. 1
                   at the time was a two-lane road about 18 to 20 feet wide. The surface was
                   macadam with two coats of oil. Traffic had been heavy and the surface was
                   not in good condition. There were many bad turns in the road and this was
                   particularly true near Noumea. One result of the condition of this road was a
                   large number of accidents many of which resulted in fatalities. The work
                   done by the regiment consisted of widening the road by building out the
                   shoulders and relocating certain portions. This also meant widening some
                   bridges and culverts.
         
                   Paving Nickel Dock
         
                   Project:  To pave with concrete the cargo handling area adjacent to the
                   Nickel Docks in Noumea.
         
                   Description:   The uneven surface of the cargo handling area resulted in the
                   inefficient handling of cargo. To correct this condition the regiment was
                   assigned the job of paving the area with a six-inch slab of reinforced
                   concrete. Over six thousand cubic yards of concrete were poured here. The
                   sub-grade was poor and had to be prepared for concrete. A batching and
                   mixing plant consisting of two 14-cubic foot mixers and hoppers filled with
                   clamshells was erected. Dump trucks were used to move the concrete to
                   the site of the pouring. The entire job was completed in thirty days.
                   Maximum output at the mixing plant was 265 yards in 16 hours.