NEW TERMINAL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 45, 23 February 1937, Page 8

NEW TERMINAL.

AUCKLAND BUSES.

SIMPLICITY OF DESIGN.

BTTLLDUfG TAKING SHAPE.

The skeleton framework and wall? of Auckland's ne-.v bus terminal, whk-h are rapidly taking shape on the old railway station site behind the Chief Post Office, are now .-ufficiently advanced to indicate the general layout of the site. There will be a main building at the post office end, and a long , roofed platform extending towards Breakwater Road where buses will take up and set down passengers. Around the buildings and platform an extensive paved area will give ample room for the manoeuvring of the bus fleets. .X early three months have paseed since the work was begun, and probably another four or five months will be required to complete. This means that the terminal should be available for use about the middle of the year. Progress appeared slow prior to Christmas, as the operations were then below ground levelsuch a* the provision of concrete elabs for the ba«es of the pillar?, and a drainage system to be linked up with the terminal buildings. Fully half of the heavy constructional work has been dealt with, and before long the street alteration? surrounding the site will be put in hand. These Involve the widening of Commerce Street extension to give a total width of 105 feet, with 80 feet between kerbs, an improvement which should allow taxi* and motor traffic generally to move freely in the vicinity of the terminal and should also provide for the requirements of traffic passing between the waterfront end Cuetom* Street. It is an essential part of this street scheme that two triangles hitherto not available for traffic should-be taken in, one where the ticket offices of the old railway station were and the other diagonally opposite. Simplicity of design appears to be the keynote of the terminal scheme. The administrative building will have only one storey, of reinforced concrete and brickwork, and accommodation will be available for five bus company offices, for three service car offices, for four shops, a restaurant, a general waiting room, a women's rest room, a manager's and information office, rooms for bus and service car drivers, traffic department quarters and necessary facilities for the public. Surrounding the main building will be a suspended verandah and platform roof. The platform will extend for 255 ft and will have a general width of 24ft, while the roof will project about 16ft beyond the platform on both sides. The location of the terminal i« not ideal, but the linking of east and west traffic, and the connections with- the tramways system and the ferries should be a great improvement for the city.