Tunnel Plaza Costs “Thoroughly” Checked

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30152, 8 June 1963, Page 13

Tunnel Plaza Costs “Thoroughly” Checked

Although a correspondent to "The Press" considered it difficult to believe that no provision was made for housing operating staff emergency vehicles and equipment in the preliminary estimate of £ 15.000 for the control point of the Christchurch-Lyttelton Road Tunnel, the chairman of the tunnel authority (Mr R. A. Witte rock) said in reply that, in its estimates. the Ministry of Works specifically said these items were not included.

The correspondent, "Bifocal.” said: "Apparently the difference between a control point and an administration block is £145.000. My confidence in Ministry of Works planners remains unshaken They have no pecuniary interest in the project, and no fees to earn For this reason their sober estimate for a control point is more credible and acceptable. It is difficult to believe that even in the preliminary estimate of £15.000, no provision was made for housing operating staff, emergency vehicles and equipment. In the case of public works of this nature, it is standard practice for architects’ plans to be submitted to Ministry of Works engineers and architects for assessment and approval before tenders are called for. The authority’s chairman apparently over-' looked this question. May I restate it more clearly. Did the authority submit the architect's plans for the administration block, to the Government department concerned. for assessment, and was the necessary approval received before tenders were called for? Mr Witbrock, to whom the tetter was submitted, replied: "The Ministry of Works has a pecuniary interest, in that they are paid consulting fees for the construction of the road tunnel and its associated works exclusive of the toll plaza and administration block. “For the toll plaza area and the administration block, the authority, ait the request of the Ministry of Works, appointed a registered architect and a qualified structural

engineer as consultants for this specific work ‘Thereafter, the architect proceeded in collaboration with the works committee of the authority and consultations were held between the architect, the structural engineer, and the Ministry of Works “The final plans were approved by the authority's works committee which includes among its members, a well-known retired builder, a prominent retired civil engineer. and businessmen. "The authority, at a full meeting, adopted the works committee’s recommendations and public tenders were called for The contract was let to the lowest tenderer ’The authority accepted its architect’s and structural engineer’s recommendations and was in no way obliged to seek other opinions on the matter of estimates "Whilst your correspondent finds it difficult to believe that the original estimates did not provide for housing staff, emergency vehicles and equipment. It is nevertheless a fact that on its estimates the Ministry of Works specically stated the following:— “ ‘ltems not included are: housing for operating staff; administrative offices for the authority; vehicles and furniture; loan and interest charges during construction.' "And because these items were specifically excluded the authority thoroughly investigated them at the only other toll facility in New Zealand namely, the Auckland Harbour Bridge Authority, and calculated the probable costs. "It may be of interest that the administration block at Auckland cost approximately £60.000 more than ours five years ago and has had to have additions and alterations since that date. “This tunnel has been described as the Gateway to the Plains and is comparable to the airport. Buildings can be shoddy or beautiful. Every shoddy building or bottleneck is a monument to someone's inefficiency. “The policy of the author- ' ity is to provide efficiency and a tunnel and buildings of good appearance. “I am not prepared to answer any further anonymous correspondence but can assure any interested persons that the authority is very willing to supply, through its staff, information which might be sought.”