MOTORWAY IN PARK FAVOURED

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30959, 15 January 1966, Page 1

MOTORWAY IN PARK FAVOURED

Professor Buchanan’s Report To Council

The Fendalton motorway from Salisbury street across North Hagley Park proposed in the master transport plan of the Christchurch Regional Planning Authority was supported by Professor Colin Buchanan in his report to the City Council last evening.

Professor Buchanan, who is professor of transport at the Imperial College of Science and Technology, London, was engaged by the council to report on the plan, and has spent the last fortnight in the city with an associate, Mr G. Crow. On the park motorway, he said: “I am sorry that we have not been able to pull anything out of the bag for you. No brilliant idea has emerged that would satisfy everyone. But granted the need for a major road broadly in this direction, and for this there can be no doubt, then in fact the possibilities are extremely limited.”

Summarising, he said:— “We think a full-scale network and environmental study of the whole urban area is needed. It should be related to more precise ideas for the deployment of population and employment in the post-1980 period.

“Meanwhile, we find the transportation study to be reliable as far as the case for the central motorways is concerned.

“We do not feel wholly satisfied with the treatment proposed for the central business area and the ‘river precinct’ within the loop of the Avon river to the west. These require further study, with a more determined effort to treat them fully as environmental areas. Meanwhile we do not think it w r ould be wise to open up Rolleston avenue by means of a bridge at Antigua street.”

The translation of traffic forecasts for 1980 and beyond into a highway network had produced a central motorway “box” open-ended on the west side, Professor Buchanan said.

The main north-south motorway on the line of Barbadoes street was fully justified, as was the southern motorway, he said, and he could see no reason to question the actual locations chosen for them. On the Fendalton motorway. his report said the 1980 traffic figures on the route were only just sufficient to justify a road of motorway standards. Bealey Avenue The possibility of making Bealey avenue the primary distributor had been examined. If it could be used the park link would be avoided. To use Bealey avenue would involve running Harper avenue over the river and into Bealey avenue on an upward grade to fly over Carlton Mill corner and I'apanui road. The fly-over would descend to ground level, running along Bealey avenue using the existing carriageways either side of the central tree belt The carriageways would be reduced to 24ft each side of the central reserve. On the outside of each carriageway there would be a 16ft service road for the benefit of frontage buildings

and an Bft footway adjoining the fence line.

“Very Tight Fit” “Thus it would be possible to provide two express carriageways along Bealey avenue and to provide service for the buildings without encroaching on properties and without touching the trees,” he said. “It would be a very tight fit, but it could be done.” All the side roads running into the avenue, except Durham street and Manchester street, which would be taken underneath, would have to be blocked off, he continued. It was tempting to conclude that use should be made of Bealey avenue, but when de-

tails of the conversion were worked out and made known there would be opposition, and such a road at ground level would cause a great deal of interruption of local circulation patterns. “Moreover, it is, quite clear

that the road would have no spare capacity after 1980 to deal with further increases of traffic,” Professor Buchanan said.

He next examined the park motorway, and said there was nothing against the proposal on traffic grounds. It would function satisfactorily and since the road would be elevated there would be no dislocation of local circulation. A great deal of property would be required, but it was not apparent that it would be vastly expensive .

“We would be inclined to locate the road midway between Salisbury and Peterborough streets, making a clean sweep of all the property, in order to avoid the overshadowing effect o’ the road on adjoining property,” he said.

“The present design for the intersection with the northsouth motorway does not strike us as very satisfactory since it involves a two-level cross-over above the Avon river. We are fairly sure this could be simplified.” “Cleaner” Solution The motorway would be a better and “cleaner” solution than the somewhat makeshift “squeezed in” proposition for Bealey avenue. “We do not think any ordinarily sensitive person would wish to see the link across the park,” he continued. “This strikes us as a particularly pleasant corner of the park, with some fine trees. Park terrace, too, is very pleasant “Nevertheless, having considered the matter at great length and from every angle, and having spent much time at the site, we have reached the conclusion that the road could be put in without its being outrageously intrusive. Single-Span Bridge “Of the various possibilities we are inclined to think that a simple, slender overbridge spanning the Avon river and Park terrace in one span would be the best choice “Further west within the park the road might with advantage be sunk a few feet below the surface along the present line of Harper avenue. “Throughout the traverse of the park it would be a matter of securing skilled and sympathetic landscape design of the highest order. “The spur ot Harper avenue running out to the junction of Bealey avenue and Carlton Mill road could be abandoned and returned to parkland.”

(Other reports on Professor Buchanan appear on Page 14)