Problem Of Lyttelton Tunnel Outlet Solved

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28629, 4 July 1958, Page 11

Problem Of Lyttelton Tunnel Outlet Solved

plans for the Lyttelton outlet of the Christchurch-Lyttelton road tunnel were approved by the Road Tunnel Authority yesterday. Agreement with the amended plans by the Lyttelton Borough Council was reported. Twelve houses may have to be removed and the authority decided to ask its consultants, the Ministry of Works, to alter a road deviation to save three of them. The Lyttelton end of the tunnel will now be 50 feet east of the old band rotunda site. The chariman (Mr W. S. MacGibbon) said he and the secretary (Mr F. G. K. Gilchrist) had attended as observers, at the request of the authority’s consultants. a conference at Lyttelton on the question of road access there and the tolls plaza and access roads at the Heathcote end. “I am very glad to say we had a very happy meeting with the Lyttelton Borough Council, and after discussion and slight amendments to the plans so well prepared by the Ministry of

Works we came to a very happy solution,” said Mr Mac Gibbon. ”As far as we can see, the people will have no physical difficulties with the Lyttelton outlet of the tunnel.” ‘That is absolutely correct,” said Mr W. Morris (Lyttelton borough) in support. ‘‘The Borough Council is very pleased and satisfied with the plan as i amended.” The consultant engineers had asked that the plans for the Lyttelton end be treated as in committee, because they had not been approved by the borough; council, said Mr Mac Gibbon. It appeared that 12 houses were affected at Lyttelton but a slight amendment to the plans would save three from being acquired. Exploratory holes were now being put down.

Moving that the plans be in committee until they were made final, Mr Morris said it was only fair to the house-owners concerned that the plans should not be published in the meantime. ‘‘lt is customary in local bodies to keep negotiations for properties in committee,” said Mr W. P. Glue. On resuming in open meeting, the authority, on the motion of Mr Morris, decided to accept the plans, subject to amendments proposed by the consultants. ‘‘We have to express to Mr A. E. Clark (District Commissioner of Works) our appreciation of their solving an almost unsolvable difficulty at the Lyttelton end.” said Mr Mac Gibbon. ‘‘l remember that Bob Semple stood at the site and said: ‘How in hell are you going to fix that?’ ”

The solution had been worked out mainly by the technical staff at the head office of the Ministry of Works, said Mr Lancaster.