SYDNEY SKYSCRAPERS

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 159, 26 September 1927, Page 12

SYDNEY SKYSCRAPERS

REMAKING THE CITY BRIDGE BUILDER’S VIEWS ‘‘lf Sydney is to maintain its position as the commercial capital of Aus- ! tiralia, the building limit of 150 feet; will have to be increased, and prob- I ably doubled, necessitating wider ! streets than at present.” Thus Dr. Bradfield, designer of the; North Shore bridge, in an interview ! on “Greater Sydney.” “The city proper cannot expand laterally,” says Dr. Bradfield, “so it must expand vertically. The first requirement is the preparation of a comprehensive plan lor the remodelling of the city proper, and the opening up of new traffic avenues by railway and road through the suburbs to the boundaries of the county of Cumberland, and beyond where necessary. “This plan oan only be prepared by a commission of about three experts with local government representation, appointed by the Governor. “The construction of the city railway, the harbour bridge, the eastern suburbs railway, and the electrification of the existing suburban railways, with rolling stock and electric power, will cost in round figures £30,000.000. “Expenditure of this money in the metropolitan area will greatly increase travelling fac ities, and as the population grows the city must expand to provide for the ever increasing business. City environs must be planned to cope with the heavy traffic, so that the greatest degree of orderliness, convenience, and beauty can be brought about from the chaos of years of formless and plan lass growth. Modern Traffic “In planning, modern methods of traffic must be provided for. For instance, we must have fast electric railways through c ut the city and suburban area. with motor-buses as far as practicable feeding the various suburbs. “Fast transport must receive due consideration, as its maximum of efficiency cannot be obtained if short runs due to cross streets are to continue. In some districts every second street might be closed to through traffic. “Horse-drawn vehicles must be banished from tie principal sti*eets, and pedestrians mast be made to cross at pre-arranged stopping places. The pedestrian traffic in many city streets will soon be a problem. The footpaths, generally 12 feet wide, are too narrow, and will have to be increased in width, particularly in shopping areas. “There is also need for better entrances and exits to and from the city, better roads, and better surfacing on roads to eliminate noise and dust, and make for economy in ti'ansport.” “The cost of remodelling the city,” concluded Dr. Bradfield, “should be distributed over the county of Cumberland as a whole, as all suburbs will benefit by the scheme ”