THE DEADLY CROSSING.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 222, 18 September 1924, Page 8

THE DEADLY CROSSING.

XIX& STREET QUESTION. NEED FOR FLAGMEN. . The matter of the much-discussed level crossings at Bang Street and Victoria Crescent was before the Xewmarket Borough. Council last evening, when a letter was received from the Minister of Railways (the Hon. J. G. Coatee) stating that the Department was still prepared to erect an over-bridge on the same conditions as submitted to the Council in 1913, namely, that the department would erect the bridge if the Council prepared the approaches and closed King Street for traffic. Although agreeable to the proposal, members considered that the closing ot King Street was not fair to ratepayers. The Minister had informed the Council that the overbridge was the only satisfactory solution to the problem, and that he could not comply with the request of the Council as regards the appointing of flagmen pending a decision as to the other proposals. He intimated that in the event of the Council joining with the Department the work of erecting the overbridge would be commenced immediately. The Streets Committee reported that* it had considered the suggestion advanced by the Automobile Association to the effect that Carlton Road be continued through the reserve into Broadway with the object of enabling traffic to avoid the dangerous crossings, and was of the opinion that it would be unwise, at the present juncture, to adopt the suggestion. It was stated that at the best the scheme would only relieve the position to a slight degree, and the dangers at the crossing would still exist. At the present time, if the users of the highway were anxious to avoid the danger points they might do so by proceedings via Khyber Pass (which will shortly be completed in concrete) or by the apex of the Domain. In the opinion of the committee the former route was very attractive to motorists, and it was hard to understand why traffic should prefer to use Carlton Road and King Street with the existing dangers. It was considered that the Council should concentrate on the question of safeguards until that phase of the problem had been definitely settled. The committee recommended that at present ni»..' action be taken as regards the proposal of the Automobile Association. The • recommendation was adopted. ... After discussion it was decided to renew the suggestion that flagmen 1 be posted at the two crossings in question.