Subsidy On Traffic Lights In Riccarton

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31942, 20 March 1969, Page 14

Subsidy On Traffic Lights In Riccarton

(From Our Own Reporter)

WELLINGTON, March 19.

The National Roads Board today decided to subsidise, at $3 for SI, the installation of traffic lights at four intersections in Riccarton borough.

The intersections are at Riccarton Road-Deans Avenue; Matipo Street-Riccarton Road: Clyde Road-Riccarton Road; and Straven Road-Kil-marnock Street.

by the borough will be required if an acceptable level of service is to be maintained. After the opening of the motorway, volumes on Riccarton Road and Blenheim Road will remain such that the signal installations will be required. “At this stage no proposal is put forward for linking the signals but it is intended to provide signal controllers capable of modification for linking, if and when this is required, and to carry out investigations for linking as the scheme is implemented,” he said.

In August, 1967, the board adopted the policy that signal control on roads or streets other than State highways would be accepted as subsidised work provided the proposals were based on an over-all system of traffic management which the board had approved. To date the only approved scheme covers central Christchurch.

A 10-year programme for signal control has been submitted by the Riccarton Borough Council for approval. The programme calls for the installation of four sets of signals at an estimated cost of $42,000. Riccarton Road (15,000 vehicles a day) and Blenheim Road (12,000 vehicles a day) are major arteries through Riccarton borough giving ac-| cess to the west and south suburbs. Major cross-connections between these two roads are forecast to reach capacity by 1975, when signal control will be required at their intersections with Blenheim Road and Riccarton Road. The intersections of Clarence Street with Blenheim Road and Riccarton Road now have signals but already the Riccarton Road intersection is subject to delays. Matipo Street offers some relief to Clarence Street but the intersections require control by traffic officers at peak periods. “Riccarton Road and Blenheim Road will be required to carry a considerably increased load until the motorway is constructed and gives! relief,” said the Director of l Roading (Mr F. A. Langbein).' “Since the motorway is not planned within the next 10 years there can be no doubt that the installations planned