WATERFRONT CHANGES

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 784, 3 October 1929, Page 11

WATERFRONT CHANGES

NEW VEHICULAR ROUTE TO NORTHCOTE PROGRESS OF VIADUCT From October 11 the vehicular ferry service at present in operation near Prince’s Wharf in Quay Street will cease to exist. Until the new vehicular ferry site on the Western Wharf reclamation is ready, all vehicles for Birkenhead ami Northcote will use the ferry from Mechanics* Bay, which at present serves Devonport and Takapuna. This will be only a temporary ai raugement. By November 11 it is expected that the new ferry landingstage on the reclamation will be ready to accommodate the vehicular traffic to and from Birkenhead and Northcote.

It is the intention of the Harbour Board engineer, Mr. D. Holderuess, to use the bridge from the Prince's Wharf ferry for the new ferry’ on the reclamation, hence the closing down earlier than was expected. However, the new Birkenhead and Northcote ferry will be opened a month before the original time, which was to have been the middle of December. CONVENIENCE OF GROWERS

Mr. Holderness stated this morning that the new vehicular ferry would be opened as soon as possible because of the strawberry season. Large quantities of strawberries came across daily during the season on the Birkenhead-Northcote service, and these had to get to the markets early. Any congestion would mean delay, therefore, he was finishing the work as quickly as possible to meet the convenience of the growers. When the vehicular ferry goes from Prince’s Wharf big changes will take place on the Auckland waterfront. The long building which at present houses several carrying firms and launch owners will be removed, as well as several other smaller sheds and buildings in the vicinity. It is expected that the small landing wharves near the junction of Prince s Wharf and Quay Street will also be removed. All this is part of the scheme following the construction of the viaduct which has replaced the old Albert Wharf. Excellent progress has been made with the viaduct. As soon as the vehicular ferry ceases operations there and the block of buildings is removed it will be joined to Quay Street without interruption. AHEAD OF SCHEDULE The engineers are ahead of schedule with the viaduct. The whole of the southern side has been completed and small ships are using it for berths. Half the piles have been driven on the western side and 150 ft on the south side has been paved with concrete. The piles which will form the foundations for the lifting bridge of the viaduct have all been driven. This bridge will allow boats to pass through to Freeman’s Bay when The viaduct is eventually completed ami joins the whole of the reclaimed area in Freeman's Bay with the City at Quay Street. This year the board decided to build the viaduct ouly as far as the lifting bridge. Future operations have yet to be decided on, but this will not be done for some months to come. Reclamation work beyond the wharf has gone ahead rapidly during the winter months and a large area is now definitely above high water. It is expected that before long more valuable property will be offered for lease by the board which year by year adds to its revenue with land reclaimed from the sea.