BRIDGE OR TUNNEL

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 109, 10 May 1943, Page 2

BRIDGE OR TUNNEL

I entirely disagree with your correspondent Mr. Stewart as regards the necessity of another investigation in connection with better facilities for transport across the harbour. Two commissions some years ago were unanimous as regards the site and a bridge. In fact, the last commission fixed the height for vessels to pass 'under at 135 ft and SOOft as the length of span of arch. If Mr. Semple said he was in favour of a tunnel he never took any further interest in the matter. Although greater development as regards the closer settlement of northern lands would follow the construction of a harbour bridge, city business firms and also the City Council have been loath to give the project a pushalong. Unless a tunnel was fairly lengthy the traffic capacity would not be equal to a bridge, and, furthermore, the initial cost and expense of maintenance would make it prohibitive. The length of the tunnel would be about the same as the length of the Hudson twin tunnels which have a roadway of 20ft and which cost £10,000,000. Materials and labour have doubled since then, so Mr.Stewart's suggestion is absolutely unthinkable. JOHN GUINIVEN.