TRAFFIC ON HUTT ROAD

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28937, 3 July 1959, Page 7

TRAFFIC ON HUTT ROAD

Engineer Hints At Changes “The Press" Special Service WELLINGTON, July 2. The Wellington City Engineer (Mr F. B. C. Jeffreys) has hinted that consideration was being given to the provision of additional traffic lanes on the Hutt road to accommodate the growing volume of traffic. He was giving an address to the New Zealand Roads Federation. It was estimated that by 1970 the 10-hour volume (8 a.m.-6p.m.) of traffic would reach a peak of 33,000 vehicles, while the highway would be expected to carry a 24-hour volume of 50,000 vehicles, he said. “It has been obvious for some years that major improvements must be effected to improve access to and egress from Wellington,” Mr Jeffreys said. In. addition to the provision of more traffic lanes on the Hutt road, the construction of a periphery by-pass to the southern portion of Te Aro Hat and so through to the eastern suburbs and Wellington Airport was being investigated. There was a suggestion, too, of a Hutt road by-pass from west coast areas into the city. This route would also by-pass the midcity bottleneck. Other proposals, designed to provide even distribution of Hutt road traffic into the city, had already been tentatively approved in principle. These included:— Elevated roadway—Aotea quay, Waterloo quay, Jervois quay to Taranaki street, with possible extensions to the Te Aro flat area and- Clyde quay. Widening of Thorndon quay to Featherston street.

Widening of Tinakori road to Sydney street, with the provision of an overbridge at Hutt road. Widening of Murphy and Mulgrave streets, and a deviation to conform with the natural contour, with junction at Lambton quay to give access to the Government centre and shopping area of the city. Improvements to Glenmore road, to the horseshoe bend south of the viaduct, then by short tunnel to Norway street, to Willis street, to Arthur and Buckle streets, and then by the least costly and most direct route to the eastern suburbs and Wellington airport. Mr Jeffreys emphasised that adequate off-street parking would have to be provided concurrently with these 1 improved road facilities.

“Congestion is a world-wide problem,” he said. “It has received intensive study in all the cities of the world.”