Improvements for Easy Intersection

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 59, 1 June 1927, Page 13

Improvements for Easy Intersection

BIG WORK BY TRAMWAYS NEW SYSTEM OF RAILS In 17 hours of every day, 2,288 tramcars pass OA'er the Customs StreetQueen Street intersection. No wonder this is the busiest corner in Auckland. During the past month the tramway authorities have been p&rticularly busy. and \-ery soon a complete newset of rails will replace those now doing duty at the intersection. Noav that the Dilworth Building is complete a larger amount of street space is available at the corner. This will be an added adA*antage to everyone. The present work of relaying the rails at the intersection is the biggest of its kind undertaken by the Tramway Department, but it is being done Avithout any inconvenience to the public. When the new- system is complete it will giv T e the trams a greater clearance at this corner and will facilitate the speed of the ears which use it. Pedestrians and \-ehicular traffic AAill also benefit, as the tram-cars will not be so congested as they are at the present time at rush periods. The engineering department of the tramways has set out the new system at its works, so that Avhen the time comes the rails will simply be placed in sections in their beds and traffic will not be held up. None of the new track will go back into its old bed because of the AA-ider clearance AA'hich is being given. Passers-by will have noticed that workmen have been busily preparing the neAV bed for some time past. Alost of the work has been done at night, when the traffic has ceased running. A fresh concrete bed on A\hich to lay the rails has been put in. Next week the first of the rails will be laid and A\-ork will go on each night until the whole scheme is complete. The through traffic along Queen Street AA'ill not be interfered with during anv of the proceedings, but that on either side of Customs Street Avill be shunted until the final arrangements are made Care and attention is being paid to the : traffic so that there will not be any disorganisation.

The new rails are of British manufacture and are made of manganese steel, Avhich is the best a\-ailable. The ,Avork was necessary as the present system of rails was worn out and the Public Works Department had complained of the clearance at this busy corner.