KAIWARRA RAMP

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 3, 4 January 1936, Page 14

KAIWARRA RAMP

IS DELAY NECESSARY?

A MOTORIST'S FEARS

The hope that the important work of building the Hutt Road ramp to give road traffic safety from the heavy rail traffic that will be concentrated in the outlet to the railway yard will not be delayed, from one cause or another, until trains were actually running, was expressed today by a motorist, who pointed out that it would be absurd to spend the £500,000 proposed on level crossings in other parts of New Zealand if at the same time another most dangerous level crossing was even temporarily created in the capital city.

"While the legal argument continues between the Railway Department and the City Council," lie said, "about the position of Davis Street, and whether Davis Street is to be closed or remain a public street, it is a matter for regret that the more important question of providing an overhead crossing for the new railway lines near Kaiwarra appears to have been relegated to the background. The situation reminds one of the old political days when roading construction and settlement were an important part of the political life of the country; as long as the politicians could watch the various parties interested arguing over side issues nothing was done.

"It appears that the Automobile Association has been successful in obtaining from all the parties concerned an admission that an overhead bridge is necessary- It would, indeed, be little short of courting disaster to construct a level crossing at Kaiwarra. A change has come upon the scene, however, in that a Government which admitted that an overhead bridge was necessary has now gone out of office, and has been replaced by New Zealand's first Labour Government. The extent to which this will affect the position is really a matter between the Government and the Railways Board, the admission of the necessity of a ramp having come from the Railways Board through the former Government.

"The various local bodies in and around Wellington have, due to the ! attitude of the Hutt County, been unable to reach agreement on the question of the apportionment of the cost as between them. This is unfortunate, and there is talk of a commission to make the allocations. The Hutt County should be aware, from previous experience of commissions, that the cost of such a commission would probably be greater than the small amount in dispute. The attitude of the Labour members of the Harbour Board, as exDressed at its meeting of December IS, was that this body also should cooperate in the erection of the ramp, but the board's attitude seemed to be that it was not legally obliged to do so, and that in any case ramps and streets were outside its province. The manner in which the matter was brought up by the Labour members of the board shows that every aspect of the ramp question will receive their full consideration. Nobody denies the ability of the Harbour Board to provide an amount for the purpose, even if it be a small one. The outlook of the new Labour Cabinet on the whole level crossing question, in which the Kaiwarra ramp must be included, will be awaited with interest. "The Minister of Public Works, the Hon. R. Semple, is taking his portfolio seriously in overhauling the public works programme. Here is his chance to settle a discussion which has already drawn out over a long period. II the construction of this overhead bridge were put in hand immediately, its completion could be synchronised with that of the whole Tawa Flat scheme, and the danger to life and limb inseparable from a level crossing such as this would be could be eliminated before the new lines are used. Furthermore, if an examination of the economics of this matter is made, it is apparent that the construction of a 66ft roadway along the reclamation would be a waste if the ramp is delayed as the heavy volume of traffic to and from the city would for safety sake still be confined to the Thorndon Quay bottleneck, with its interference by trams and other drawbacks. The Railways Board, the Main Highways Board, and the Unemployment Board have set aside nearly £500,000 to eliminate existin" level crossings, yet. at the time they will be doing ( so there is the likelihood of the serious mistake being made of allowing a new one to come into being Unless a settlement of the financial considerations is promptly brought about, it seems very likely to happen."