ONE-WAY TRAFFIC

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 64, 9 December 1926, Page 8

ONE-WAY TRAFFIC

KENT-CAMBRIDGE TERRACES CONTROL STATEMENT BY MAYOR EXPERTS NOW TO RECONSIDER MATTER “Now that the way is clear and all legal requirements have been complied with, the Kent-Cambridge Terraces improvements can be commenced immediately,” said the Mayor (Mr. C. J. B. Norwood) yesterday. “I am requested through the columns of the Press to remove any misunderstanding there may be concerning the council’s intentions relative to traffic problems that arise, and whether it is intended to have one-way or two-way traffic. As I have stated several times previously, it has always been the council’s intention when the alterations were made to enforce one-way traffic, and the alterations, so far as the crossways through the reserve were concerned, were designed to make the enforcement of one-way traffic possible without inconvenience to the public. “This policy is not likely to be departed from, as it is. strongly supported by the council’s expert officers. It is, however, only a proper thing, since the Commissioner has made a recommendation that two-way traffic should be permitted on both sides, that I should accept it as a duty and have the matter reconsidered by the experts, including the new citv engineer, whose reports will be placed before an early meeting of the Bv-laws Committee. “Even under the difficulties existing at present, it is practically one-way traffic with the exception of the traffic coming from Vivian Street, which I am convinced will automatically go up Kent Terace when th e visibility makes it safe for it to do so. As the position now stands, there is added to the total area available for traffic 2201 square yards in Kent Terrace and 1816 square yards in Cambridge Terrace. “I am in full agreement with those who believe that an alteration to the tramlines in Kent Terrace will make the area still more safe for traffic, aud experience will show bow soon this alteration should be carried out. lam anxious to maintain the lowest working cost of the trams, and the many minor alterations earned out, out of revenue this year, precludes this, alteration being done economical!}' this year. A further, necessary work is to improv? the location of the lines at the Courtenav Place intersection to enable traffic down Cambridge Terrace to proceed along Courtenay Place without crossing the tramlines, and is more urgent and necessary than the proposed alterations in Kent Terrace. This, however, is being carefully gone into, and I hope to be able to take, the public into the council’s confidence upon the matter at an early date. No doubt it will be found more economically sound to do both simultaneously. “So far as the genera! lay-out of Kent Terrace is concerned, the council would, in my opinion, incur a grave risk if it varied in any substantial manner the proposals which it first approved, since they have been the subject of examination by an independent commission appointed by the Government. and strongly supported by all those whose position and training give them greater authority to speak than either I or mv fellow councillors.” The Mayor ’favours the whole of Kent Terrace (including the 15ft. strip between the tramway tracks and the central reserve) being used for southbound traffic, and Cambridge Terrace for north-bound traffic. This is pretty generally observed at the present time, and was the late Mr. W. 11. Morton’s opinion as to what must be observed, enunciated at the time he planned the proposed improved lay-out for the tramways at the Courtenay Place-Kent Terrace junction some five years ago.