Council To Plan Grade Separation At Bridge

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29802, 19 April 1962, Page 12

Council To Plan Grade Separation At Bridge

Although the National Roads Board had not finally given authority to call tend! ere for a grade separation at the Moorhouse avenueColombo street intersection, it had asked the City Engineer (Mr E. Somers) to proceed with plans and specifications, the chairman of the works committee (Cr. A. R. Guthrey) announced to the City Council last evening. "In the meantime the board has asked for our authority to allow the installation of traffic control lights,” he said. His first thought had been that traffic lights might mean a delay in the grade separation which he and the council regarded as essential, but the preparation of plans

would require some time—[probably six months —and in the meantime the traffic lights would be a help. Cr. Culhrey said There would have to be a lot of investigation first to decide whether the grade separation would be by means of an underpass or flyover in Moorhouse avenue. "It is a good move," said Cr. R. M. Macfarlane, M.P. “Peak periods occur at the crossing at all times of the day. We must have lights in the meantime. otherwise when traffic officers are not on duty there is chaos and you don’t know where to turn.” The council agreed with Cr. Cuthrey’s motion that it should agree to the installation of lights as a safety mea. sure and an interim step towards grade separation. News of the decision was also welcomed last evening by Mr R. H. Stewart, president of the Canterbury Manufacturers' Association. As one of the original movers to protest against the closing of Durham street railway crossing, especially where there was no improvement in the Colombo street intersection, his association was particularly pleased that sometaing was being done, he said. Accidents were still occurring at the corner and there was frequently confusion among road users, Mr Slewart said. He commended the council for its persistence in pressing the case for grade separation, and expressed a hope that it would not be long before the Roads Board recognised the necessity for early action,