Motorway Width Questioned

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31326, 23 March 1967, Page 16

Motorway Width Questioned

Mr W. P. Glue, president of the Christchurch Citizens’ Association, told the annual meeting last evening that he would be as “popular as the plague” for calling extravagant the width of “corridor” proposed for the motorway from the northern city boundary to Bealey avenue.

Mr Glue said that the proposals of the Regional Planing Authority, approved in principle by the City Council but not by the National Roads Board, involved taking a width of five chains which was “over the edge.”

Mr Glue said his concern was that the flanks not required for actual motorway would have to be maintained, fenced, and otherwise taken care of by the City Council.

He was certain the Roads Board would not accept responsibility for such a width. If it did, it would cut grants to district roads councils for other work. Mr Glue said half the width would be sufficient and that would save taking over so many homes. A “sound barrier” was not essential. He lived on a very busy road and did not notice the noise of traffic. Mr Glue said he did not question the need for motorways. He gave population figures between the 1961 and 1966 censuses to show that the population of Christchurch had increased by 101 persons a week (half the total increase for the whole South Island) compared with 282 in Auckland, 66 in Wellington, 60 in Hutt, and 49 in Hamilton.

Mr Glue said the growth in such places as Kaiapoi and Eyre County in one direction and Waimairi County in another also increased the Christchurch traffic load mightily. Mr G. D. Hattaway said he respected Mr Glue’s personal views on the “corridor” but suggested that the full width was needed as room in which to lay out the motorway. Flanks could, if necessary, be sold off. Mr Glue’s own growth figures showed that Christchurch must plan farsightedly for vast numbers.