Doubts On Elevated Motorway Plans

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31662, 24 April 1968, Page 13

Doubts On Elevated Motorway Plans

By the time Christchurch was ready to proceed with the last stages of the master transport plan, involving an elevated motorway from Park Terrace to Barbadoes Street and beyond, sanity might well have prevailed, said Mr H. G. Royds at a meeting of the Christchurch Civic Trust this week.

It was not clear what later stages of the motorway were, but they ultimately involved an elevated motorway, he said.

“This is envisaged for at least 20 years ahead, but I think by that time, sanity may well have prevailed,” Mr Royds said. “Damage to our city by internal raised motorways for the sake of peak traffic caused by low occupancy commuter traffic will no longer be tolerated.” Opinion as to the volume ef motor traffic permissible in cities was changing throughout the world, and the internal raised motorways of the master transport plan were nothing more than planners' dreams.

The idea of building a bridge to Antigua Street from Rolleston Avenue had been abandoned so that this would not become a through route. In addition, the system of

oneway streets now proposed was likely to take quite a lot of commuter traffic from Park Terrace and Rolleston Avenue, said Mr Royds. Park Route While the master transport plan still had several objectionable features, those which caused most criticism were the Hagley Park motorway and the proposal to make Rolleston Avenue a main route. “The park motorway has now been modified so that only a short length goes through the park and an equivalent length of Harper Avenue will revert to park. At the other end, a light-control-led intersection is to be built,” he said. Mr Royds said the trust could be satisfied with present proposals. It was decided to invite the city engineer (Mr P. G. Seoul ar) to address a meeting of the trust on aspects of the plan.