H.—35

26

New North Road by a 5-chain " cut-and-cover " tunnel. Similarly, the Seccombe Street proposal leaving Broadway, Newmarket, traversing Seccombe Street, proceeding via Grammar School and Mount Eden School, crossing under Mew North Road by a 5-chain twin tunnel and joining Newton Gully at Newton Road, would by-pass all the eastern and south-eastern traffic and prevent it from passing through the congested areas. All these proposals would be entirely free from contact with tram routes —a very important consideration to all motor traffic, and making both for speed and safety. Almost two years ago the city authorities suggested a new traffic route via Queen Street, Belgium Street, and Exmouth Street, at an estimated cost of £290,000, but the alleviation to the traffic problem by this scheme would be only local and temporary. It would certainly ease the conditions along Upper Symonds Street, but would only shift the congested points farther out, while we claim that the Newton Gully proposal will effect a satisfactory and permanent solution. Attached is a summary of a report on the proposed Newton Gully by-pass route as presented to the association on the 26th August, 1929. The opening up of these routes would entail extensive resumptions of land, and heavy expense would thereby be incurred ; on the other hand, these new roads would soon be instrumental in improving the residential and business values of what are now more or less slum areas along the upper portion of Newton Gully. Consequently, the application of the principle of betterment would be eminently applicable to this proposition, thus very materially reducing the cost. The alignment and grades of these new routes would be particularly favourable, while the widths contemplated would be at least 100 ft. throughout, preferably 120 ft. along Newton Gully. In passing, it may be remarked that the suggested railway deviation from Auckland City Station to Morningside would have followed down this same gully. The cost of the major connections with Morningside (114 chains) and Western Springs (50 chains) will run into £280,000, while the lesser connections with Dominion Road via Onslow Street and the Great South Road via Seccombe Street, lengths being 45 chains and 116 chains respectively, costing approximately £45,000 and £75,000, thus making a total of £400,000. It is difficult to state what proportion of this sum could reasonably be considered as an integral part of the bridge proposals, but a sum of £100,000, or 25 per cent, of the total amount, would appear to be quite reasonable. In No. 3 bridge proposal, starting from Fanshawe Street, there would require to be considerable improvement in alignment at Freeman's Bay Park, between Beaumont Street and Patteson Street, involving a cost of £50,000, all of which should be a direct charge against the bridge proposals. It is hoped that the foregoing explanations will make it clear that the existing traffic routes would prove to be quite inadequate for the enormously increased traffic incidental to the completing of the bridge, and that it would be quite reasonable to charge a proportion of the expenditure on new and adequate outlets against the bridge proposals. The total cost suggested as being reasonably chargeable against the bridge on the southern or city side would therefore be £150,000. On the northern side, all schemes would eventually involve causeways connecting Birkenhead, Northcote, Bayswater, and Stanley Bay. The cost of these new works necessitated by reason of the bridge would be directly chargeable against the bridge. The approximate cost of these causeways would be £270,000. Thus the total estimated cost of access or improved access to the proposed harbour bridge is— Southern side, £150,000 ; northern side, £270,000 : total, £420,000. Yours faithfully, E. V. Blake, For Technical Group. F. W. Furkert, Esq., Engineer-in-Chief, P.W.D., on behalf of Bridge Commission, Wellington.

Approximate Cost of Paper. —Preparation, not given ; printing (650 copies, including map), £32 15s.

Authority: W. A. G. Skinner, Government Printer, Wellington.—l93o.

Price Is]