ACROSS WAITEMATA

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 731, 2 August 1929, Page 11

ACROSS WAITEMATA

TRAFFIC THAT WOULD USE BRIDGE VANCOUVER’S EXPERIENCE Complete vindication of estimates made two years agro of the prospective traffic that would use the proposed Auckland Harbour bridge was claimed by Mr. R. M. Greville, chairman of the Harbour Bridge Asociation. to the executive last evening. He based his assertion on the experience of Vancouver’s harbour bridge, which experts considered to present the nearest parallel in America or Canada to the Auckland project. He cited interesting traffic statistics in connection with the Vancouver structure, which was completed at the end of 1925. In the three years to the end of 1928, 991,571 vehicles used the bridge annually, a daily average of 2,716, while 2.349,400 persons crossed it in 12 months, an average of 6,436 daily. The figures represented an increase of 46 per cent, in vehicular and 30 per cent, in passenger traffic in three years. The association had estimated that 3.000 vehicles a year would use the Auckland' bridge. The Vancouver structure, was. r providing for all charges, and a . y depreciation, producing a profit _ 5 a day. AWAITING ACTION HARBOUR BRIDGE PROJECT MINISTERS CONFERRING The Prime Minister, the Right Hon. Sir Joseph Ward, and the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. E. A. Ransom, are now conferring on the whole question of the Auckland Harbour Bridge, according to advice received by Mr. R. H. Greville. Efforts have been made to induce the Government to grant as soon as possible the promised £ 500 for taking borings on two sites and also the setting up of a commission of inquiry to investigate the whole scheme. Mr. Greville informed members last evening that he hoped to receive a, definite answer before the next meting. The proposed bridge was discussed from the viewpoint of the Town-Plan-ning Association by Mr. W. H. Gummer. Great as would the structure appeal to the average person, he said, its appeal from a town-planning standpoint was greater. It would open up great residential and farming areas. It would be an artery from the City to the top of the Island. The Town-Plan-ning Association was deeply interested in the project and -would do everything possible to combine efficiency with beauty in its construction. The pronouncement of Sir James Gunson on the bridge project in the light of his experiences on his tour abroad, published by The Sun, were acclaimed by members as sounding the clarion call. It was agreed to invite Sir James to address members at the next meeting on similar aspects of development ho had noted during his tour. The association decided also to take a traffic tally of vehicular traffic between the INTorth Shore and the City on Wednesday next.