STOPPAGE OF TRAFFIC

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24901, 14 June 1946, Page 6

STOPPAGE OF TRAFFIC

AVERAGE OF 71 MINUTES DAILY TALLY AT COLOMBO STHBJST CROSSING When the Christchurch City Council considers soon the advisability di building an overbridge at the Colombo street railway crossing, it will have before It some interesting statistics on the interruptions to traffic caused by the passage of trains and shunting operations which extend over the crossing. Recently an officer of the council, on seven consecutive week days, took a careful tally of the number qf stoppages of traffic, the periods for which traffic was held up, and the number of vehicles affected. A stop-watch was used, and it was found that while the average stoppage of traffic ranged from half a minute to one and a half minutes, some were as brief as 10 seconds and others as protracted as tour minutes and a half. The total period for which traffic was blocked at the crossing averaged 71 minutes each ddy. Each stoppage was listed by the recording officer with the time at which traffic was first held up, the number and kind of vehicles involved, and the time at which the crossing was reopened. Perhaps the most inconvenient stoppage was one of 44 minptes a few minutes before nine one morning. Probably many city workers, school children, and others had to make excuses for unpuflctnality that day , ? An of the results of the tally Tuesday, April 2, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.— 61 stoppages; total time, Ihr Imin. Vehicles involved, 296 cars, 135 trucks, 50 trams, 8 horses, 1104 bicycles. Wednesday, April 3, 7.15 a.m. to 5 p.m.—Bo stoppages; total time, Ihr llmin. Vehicles involved, 471 cars, 47 p.m.—B2 stoppages; total time, Ihr 14min. Vehicles involved, 407 cars, 142 trucks, 57 trains, 6 horses, 1974 bicycles. Friday, April 5, 7.15 a.m. to 5.45 p.m. —94 stoppages; total time, Ihr 20mfa. Vehicles involved, 507 cars, 161 trucks, 58 trams, 9 hdrses, 2225 bicycles. Monday, April 8, 8 a.m. to 5.15 p.m—--62 stoppages; total time, Simin' Vehicles involved, 275 cars, 74 trucks 43 trams, 7 horses, 1525 bicycles. Tuesday, April a, 7.45 a.m. to 5.30 p.m.—92 stoppages; total time. Ihr 25min. Vehicles involved. 4Sf> cars 218 trucks. 65 trams, 12 horses, 2381 bicycles. trucks, 62 trams. 12 hprses, 1744 bicycles.