ANOTHER SITE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 208, 3 September 1938, Page 13

ANOTHER SITE.

harbour bridge.

CIIN - ENGINEER'S REPORT

A new site for tlie harbour bridge, " d ' , has ,lot be <-" disclosed, has been found by the City engineer, Mr. J. Tvler. He states that it would prove more ccononuc and Mould serve the northern ouslvth and *| thc CUy mOFe adva "tageR 1 present proposed site w Inch lie recommended in 1929. ' Hl ? r : T >; ler , g*. ve tills information to event, trH I CoIIMC 'I on Thursday \ening. He pointed out also that prevircvemi a "' d »' »■"*£SVd revenue were not now applicable. account L" f T," ati ° n was taken int o account by the council in approving a recommendation of the finknce com nortM thßt the councs > supported the Auckland Harbour Board in ie lequest to the Government that an expert commission be set up to investigate and report on the issues in the light of present conditions. After outlining the history of the bridge proposal, and referring to the requests of a deputation which waited upon the council on July 18 on behalf ot the YVaitemata Bridge Association the committee gave a report to Mr. Tyler, which stated that in 1929 a commission recommended a site from the end of Fanshawe Street to Stokes Point He was now of the opinion that there was another site, and most probably it would need an entirely different type of structure. From that viewpoint alone another Royal Commission should be set up. Mr. Tyler considered that the association s estimate of revenue had been unduly optimistic, as it was assumed that a bridge would be the sole means of communication. That was highly improbable, as it wag certain that femes could Berve certain portions of the North Shore at a lower rate than it would cost to travel by the bridge. The cost, as estimated by the commission in 1929, was £2,000,000, and the association estimated the annual expenditure at £120,000. Since the commission's estimates were made costs had advanced more than 25 per cent, and it was a worldwide experience that major works of that sort invariably cost considerably more than the original estimate. There was little likelihood of the estimates of the association being realised for some years, and that further supported the view that fuller investigation should be undertaken before embarking on such a large project. The recommendation of the finance committee was approved.