LOOKING AHEAD

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 98, 20 January 1920, Page 8

LOOKING AHEAD

ARTERIAL ROAD PROJECTED

• 'SEES TRAFFIC DIFFICULTIES MAYOR PEERS INTO THE FUTURE The Empire City has traffic difficulties in- store in the more or less distant future. Indeed, it is bad enough now, but that is perhaps because traffic is to a great'extent congested into that narrow, but- extremely crpwded street junction - where Willis Street, Harbour Street, Ixinibton Quay, and Customhouse Quay unite. This .is what Mr. Luke describes as a "bottle-neck." Ho points out that whatever the future holds, tho only through traffic ways at that point between tho hills and tho harbour are narrow Willis Street and the more spacious Victoria Street, and, if these streets aro uncomfortably congested today, what of twenty-five or fifty years hence? Tho Mayor has issued a memorandum to councillors sketching a big scheme; in tho course of which he "It is absolutely necessary that the City Council should make provision for the growth of the city, which will bo phenomenal as soon as tho Dominion recovers from tho abnormal .conditions which it has- experienced in common with other parts of the British Empire. Provision must be made for a great population, and for tho-distribation of "traffic over the main streets, and further delay will add materially ,to the cost of any 6cheme, besides acting as a hindrance to progress. Under existing cou'ditions'the breaking strain has been reached. Eight at the entrance to tho city wo are at a great disadvantage, lhe bottle-neck at Thorndon Quay is unthinkable, and should be made to conform with tho needs as far as pedestrian, tram, and vehicular traffic are concerned. Provision must be made, in conjunction with the Railway Department, for tho widening of, Thorndon Quay from the termination of the Hutt Read to Lambton Station to a width from 80 to, 90 feet. Then there are the bottle-necks between the southern end of Lambton Quay and the waterfront. The ever-growing traffic in this quarter, where the streets aro narrow, must be relieved. I ear that tho problem must be boldly tackled, and I suggest the cutting of a new main road from Lambton Quay (opposite tho Public Trust Office, say) running along between lhe Terrace and Lambton Quay, behind Willis Street, and into Boulcott Street, which would be regraded so n.<j to Rive an easy run into Manners Street. That would necessitate tho widening to nt least 80 feet of Manners Street, all the way along to Courtenay Place, by cutting off a slip of the properties on the north side.

Road to Southern Suburbs. "I--further-suggest the widening of Tory Street from Wakefield Street to John Street. Tory Street Bhould.be widened to .80 feet. A new 80ft. road could then be cut from Adelaide Road through Hospital Road, and through a deep cutting in the Town Belt leading into a new road now being formed at the back of Moxhani Avenue. Ims portion of tho scheme could be com'menced immediately. Tho road which I propose would branch out to Hatnitai in tho north and would lead to Kilbirnie and-tho southern districts. Such n thoroughfare from Adelaide load would give much-needed access to the portion? of tho city that it would servB i and would Telieve the serious congestion in Adelaide' Road during rush hours, the widoning of Tory Street would prevent the concentration of traffic in Kent and Cambridge Terraces, and would mean tho-preservatioii.of tho Basin Reserve for all time. I also propose the retailing of Adelaide Road south, so that it would'bo able to take all motor traffic going i n that direction.

Kelburn, Northland, and Karon. "'Regarding' Kolbuni, Northland, and Earori: The' Kelburn tramway can be acquired any time, and should bo owned by the citizens. The company, lam sure, is ready to recognise tho importance of public ownership of its undertaking "and-will be reasonable as to price, and be prepared to tako municipal debentures for payment If it is shown that the people at Karon and Northland and on City Councils property at Wilton's Busli can be best served by cable tramway and electric surface tramway combined, then the duplication of the Kelburn tramway in order to meet the concentration of traffic at rush hours must be considered. 'A-surface ..tramway connecting Kelburn with the hill, suburbs beyond could bo planned in such a manner as to ayoiri the v «onstruction of an expensive bridge in place of 'th* bridge already existing. Ee"arding road communication with •Kelburn. I suggest cutting into the gnly at-the south end of Wellington Club, skirting the hill and Ivclburn Park thence. cutting through the lull at he Tear of the university building, on tue Upland Road.

Access to Other Suburbs. "The new. road from Brooklyn to has been advanced by the purchase of properties, and tho work must be pushed on with. 'Ibis road should- be such as to provide for an extension of tho tramway through Vogeltown and into llornington. the demand for anVextension of the trams to Melrose must receive due, consideration. On this proposition the council has already decided to obtain a report from its officers. In the Onslow district provision must be made for better road connection with Khandallah and Ngaiofor a road that will carry a tram to these suburbs, for I am not among those , who think that both places can he served by the. utilisation of tho railway practically as a tramway. A railway BYdteni cannot be run in conjunction 'with a tramway system, for the ordinary, railway traffic must be given preference. With a single line difficulties would be considerable

"Must Look Ahead." "The position is that the council must look ahead, viewing carefully the growth of the population and the necessity ot providing access to all parts. The questions of access to the suburbs and dealing with the increased traffic are of paramount importance. lam convinced that Mr. Morton, the city engineer, should have a free hand to propound a scheme and that he should bo authorised to obtain any assistanco ho requires to bring down a report to the council. The valuable information Mr. Morton obtained in his visit abroad will be used in the remodelling of Greater Wellington. I have given uiy opinions for what they aro worth I a better schemo can bo foreshadowed, let it he forthcoming." ■

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