307 Properties Cut By Opawa Expressway

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31521, 8 November 1967, Page 24

307 Properties Cut By Opawa Expressway

Proposals for the Opawa expressway from Waltham to the Tunnel Road affecting 307 residential and other properties in the Christchurch City and Heathcote County areas, were approved by die Christchurch Regional Planning Authority yesterday.

1 he cost of property needed for the work was put at sl.6m, and sl.Bm was estimated to be the cost of building the 55-mile-an-hour expressway.

Maps supplied to the authority showed the expressway starting at the terminus of the northern and southern motorways near the comer of Waltham Road and Shakespeare Road, running to the north of Shakespeare Road, alongside the railway from Ensors Road to Garlands Road, and thence along the line of Port Hills Road to the Tunnel Road. The director of planning (Mr C. B. Millar) said the 1962 proposal included the widening of Shakespeare and Opawa Roads to 100 ft. While these would have involved less first cost, the road would lack reserve capacity and have a level of service well below that justified. It was also a scheme that would cause greatest disruption of the residential area during construction, and 60

more properties would be affected. Subsequently, there would be permanent industrial traffic through from Garlands Road to Wilsons Road.

In reviewing the proposals, said Mr Millar, property damage, traffic needs, flexibility in stage construction, prime capital costs versus travel cost savings, community factors and visual aspects had been taken into account. “The scheme now recommended is the most satisfactory and the development of a limited access route between the Waltham motorway interchange and the Tunnel Road is the solution that best meets the long-term traffic needs,” he said.

The map showed a proposed extension Of Brougham Street from Waltham Road to link up with Opawa Road. The motorway was shown as “flying” over Wilsons Road, and an overhead bridge taking Ensors Road across it. Mr Millar said the improvements would need to be completed by 1985. While some of the major work might not be done for 15 years, the route should be protected. He estimated that 203 resi-

dences, 14 other buildings and 45 part-sections would be affected in the City Council’s area, and that in Heathcote county, 15 houses, two other buildings and 28 part-sections would be affected.

The 53.4 m cost would be spread over 20 years, in four stages—Waltham Road-Ensors Road, Ensors Road-Heathcote River, Heathcote River-Cur-ries Road, and Curries Road to the Tunnel Road. Not all the properties would be needed at the same time, and a few could be re-developed. “No-one really likes an expressway or motorway, but in a few years, this one will become a necessity,” said Mr G. D. Hattaway (City Council). “One redeeming feature is that in the original scheme, Ferry Road was to be widened for its full length. Threequarters of that work will now be unnecessary. It is an ambitious scheme.

“The City Council already has applications for buildings along the route, and unless something is done, substantial buildings could be erected." Adopting the proposals, the authority asked the City Council to include the interim corridor in its planning scheme, and asked the council to send immediately a letter of explanation to affected owners. The chairman (Mr E. J. Bradshaw) said that affected Heathcote residents had been told of the position.