“Gains Outweigh Losses”

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31001, 5 March 1966, Page 16

“Gains Outweigh Losses”

“While the Christchurch City Planning Study Group regrets the necessity for any encroachment' on Hagley Park, even by Professor Buchanan’s much less obstrusive version of the road, it believes that this is a necessary part of a much larger pattern of development in which gains far out-

weigh losses,” says the commentary on the Buchanan report.

The motorway through Hagley Park, which the group says Professor Buchanan supports. "albeit reluctantly as his full report discloses,” is “an improvement in two important respects on the Master Transportation Plan motorway as it was last presented to the public (sketch in ‘The Press,’ October 30, 1964). “(a) The motorway now spans the Avon river and Park terrace in a single sweep without any connexions to Park terrace which would have entailed two flanking bridges and/or some form of interchange. “(b) The remainder of Harper avenue (to the Carlton Mill bridge) can now revert to park, and there need be no unsightly fly-over in the centre of the park where this stump would have joined the motor-way. Sunken Roadway “To these two important considerations the group adds the following:— “1. The report (clause 92) states ‘Farther west within the park the road might with \ advantage be sunk a few feet below the surface. . . . Pursuing this suggestion further, it might be possible to make it a wholly-sunken roadway not only across the park but throughout most of its length “2. Professor Buchanan found the 1980 traffic figures only just sufficient to justify a road of motorway standards. This leads the group to suggest that the road should be designed as a ‘limited access' one to be used at 30 miles an hour and not as a motorway. This would carry more traffic than a motorway. It would be narrower and could

easily be fitted between the trees of Harper avenue which are 114 ft apart. It would also have tighter curves giving more flexibility in location so that it should be possible to make the severed portion of the park of such a shape as to be useful for a playing field. Bealey Avenue

“At this point we mention an alternative not discussed by Professor Buchanan but given some attention by the group in 1963. This is to construct a primary elevated road along the centre of Bealey avenue for its full length. The advantages would be no encroachment on the park and no destruction of properties along the Salisbury street route. The disadvantages would be the loss of the trees, the down-grading of adjacent residential properties, and a greater distance to travel on ordinary streets to and from the city centre. “An important point to

note is that the Deans avenue, Fendalton road, Harper avenue intersection, which is likely to be the most severely disfigured area of the park, would have to accomodate roughly the same volume of traffic if a Bealey avenue alternative were implemented, and so neither alternative represents any gains in this area.

“The group has weighed these considerations carefully and has come to the conclusion that Professor Buchanan’s modified road across the park, with the remainder of Harper avenue closed and with careful planning, could fairly be regarded as a realignment of Harper avenue with little of the park’s amenities lost. It considers, moreover, that an overhead freeway along Bealey avenue would be more objectionable aesthetically to the city generally as well as less useful to traffic.”