NORTHERN OUTLET

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29906, 21 August 1962, Page 20

NORTHERN OUTLET

Yellow Route Criticised

The proposed yellow route for tihe northern outlet motorway, which is further west than the one recommended by the Ministry of Works, was criticised at the annual meeting of the Kaiapoi Business Men’s Association. The association supported the Kaiapoi Borough Council in the view that only the Ministry of Works engineers were “qualified to plan the best route for the northern outlet."

A report supplied by the association said that although the full details of the alternative suggestions would not be known unless investigations were carried out by the Ministry of Works engineers, it was apparent that moving the motorway further west eliminated the access and egress route to Kaiapoi, at the southern end of the borough. “The present preferred route has taken more than three years of careful and detailed study by the Ministry's engineers. It appears that if investigations of the suggested yellow line are to be proceeded with, there could be serious complications in the even distribution of traffic at the turn-off stations in the main traffic areas of Belfast and Kaiapoi,” the report said. "Apart from the Ministry of Works, responsible for the over-all planning of the motorway, and the Christchurch City Council, from a regional planning point of view, any suggested change is only vital to Waimairi, Kaiapoi. and Eyre—as are all suggested changes in these areas.

“It is hoped that there will not be any further delay in defining the centre-line for the motorway, which is of such great importance to Christchurch and North Canterbury,” the report said.