ACCESS TO THE CITY

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22717, 23 May 1939, Page 7

ACCESS TO THE CITY

Alternative Route From South

CONFERENCE MAY

BE HELD

Blenheim Road

Proposal

The provision at a cost of approximately £28,000 of an alternative highway access route to Christchurch from Sockburn by way of Blenheim road and an extension of Blenheim road is likely to be the subject of a conference among representatives of the Main Highways Board, the Christchurch City Council, and the Riccarton Borough Council. A favourable report on the proposal was recently submitted to the board by its district representative (Mr F. Langbein) and the proposed route was inspected by the board during its tour of the South Island. The construction of the additional highway is urged not only as a measure to relieve present congestion on Riccarton road, which is particularly bad on race, show, and market days, but with the object of nroviding for the increased traffic which is reasonably to be expected with the future development of the province. The largest item in the estimated cost of the scheme is payment for land taken by the Public Works Department under its powers, and a strong argument advanced in favour of its early prosecution is that at present very little of the land that would have to be traversed is built upon. Avoiding Tram Route | Riccarton road at present carries almost the entire volume of traffic to and from the south. The alternative route would give a highway unencumbered by trams, which on Riccarton road exercise their worst slowing effect on traffic at times when it is heaviest. Riccarton road would also be relieved of much of the congestion caused by country visitors to the Addington market. as the proposed highway would provide a shorter route of access to the salcyards from the Main South road.

Another advantage claimed for the proposed highway is (hat it would serve an area which is shortly to be developed by the State Housing Department. With the consequent increase in the population of Riccarlon there will be a corresponding increase in road traffic. Extension of Koad The suggested route of the new highway is from the Main South road on the Christchurch side of the projected Sockburn overbridge, across a disused gravel pit, and parallel to the electric transmission line reserve, which adjoins the railway, to Blenheim road. Alternative routes are suggested from the city end of Blenheim road where it intersects with Malipo street —a continuation by way of Princess street and Foster's road to Alliance street, or an extension of Blenheim road to Alliance street. The straight route is recommended by Ihc department’s engineers, this involving the elimination of the Alliance street level railway crossing. From the junction of Alliance street and Deans avenue traffic would turn left or right according to its destination in the southern or northern parts of the city. The distance of the alternative route from the Main South road to Colombo street is four miles 41 chains, six chains more than the present route by wav of Riccarlon load. The estimate of the cost of the work, £28.000. includes formation, metalling, sealing, construction of culverts and fences ' and payment of compensation for laud taken. This cost is much less than would be involved in the widening of the present route which might prove necessary in the future. It is also much less than would be the case in the future if buildings had lo be removed from the line of the highway.