Second Stage .With One-way Streets

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32215, 6 February 1970, Page 1

Second Stage .With One-way Streets

Some of the cables for the linked traffic lights controlling intersections in Barbadoes Street and Madras Street when they become one-way streets —the target is May—have been laid by the M.E.D. and the City Engineer’s department is up to schedule in its work on the final detailed design of the diversion of Madras Street round the east side of Latimer Square.

The diversion will take a small amount of land from the corners of the Y.W.C.A. and St John’s [Church properties. There I will be linked traffic lights at the intersections of Madras Street 'with Gloucester Street, Worcester Street and (Hereford Street.

heard objections last evening, comprised Cr E. B. E. Taylor! (chairman) and Cr H. C. Blazey. Objectors represented were the Christchurch Transport Board (Mr J. F. Fardell), Blackwell Motors, Ltd (Mr B. J. Drake), the Avenue Service Centre, Ltd (Mr D. J. Clark), and Church Property Trustees (Mr P. C. Champion). Others listed but not represented were S. Aitchison, Ltd, and the Apex Ice Cream Company, Ltd. The report of the council’s technical officer (Mr M. Gadd) said that the one-way system formed an essential part of the central traffic distribution network and an integral part of town planning for the city and region. Without the improved distribution of traffic possible with the one-way streets the city centre could stagnate or decay, and it would be impossible to carry out plans for pedestrian malls, improvements to Cathedral Square, improved parking, and the arterial and motorway net- ! work.

system in Barbadoes Street, and Mr Clark commented that there seemed to be no policy laid down for compensation for ratepayers affected. Cr Taylor said that compensation was not entirely in the hands of the City Council; the Ministry of Works was also involved.

The Church Property Trustees objected specifically to the proposed Durham Street bridge, which Mr Champion said would obliterate a building owned bl the trustees. A statement prepared by Miss N. Northcroft, a town planner, said that the quarter-acre would be cut in three by the proposed diversion of Durham Street across the land to the Avon River. Mr Drake, for Blackwell Motors, Ltd, made no submissions.

It is proposed that that part of Worcester Street which runs through Latimer Square be closed, but there are ob-i jections to this. The Christ-! church Transport Board is a principal objector; eastern- 1 suburbs buses use this part! of the road to go to and from Cathedral Square. The objections were heard last evening by one of the special committees set up by the City council, The council has to reach decisions on all the objections, and the objectors (or the council) have the right of appeal to the Town and Country Planning Appeal Board. The diversion round the .east end of Latimer Square may cut through the northi east and south-east corners of the square.- A decision, in those circumstances, whether to leave existing trees on the corners or provide parking areas has yet to be made, although many councillors hope that the trees will remain. “Improved Flow”

Effect On Buses Mr Fardell said the proposals would cause niajor disturbances to the board’s routes. The highest priority should be given to public transport

The board’s objection was listed as being to the “green wave” signal system. Mr Fardell said the board asked that bus priority be created at the intersection of Barbadoes Street and Ferry Road to assist the running of the Sumner service, for a bus- ! only route along Victoria ! Street or a priority at Salis- , bury Street to allow city-! I bound buses to enter the ) Salisbury Street “green !wave” system to Colombo | Street. The board also asked for | a bus priority at Kilmore Street to allow outward buses to enter Victoria Street and go north, and for bus priority at the intersection of Lichfield Street and Oxford Terrace. The regional traffic engineer of the Regional Planning Authority (Mr M. Douglass) gave brief evidence support!ing the one-way system, and (said the board’s objection was one of principle to ensure “bus privileges” at critical intersections. The Avenue Service Centre, ■ Ltd, objected to the one-way

Traffic will travel north only in Madras Street from Moorhouse Avenue to Bealey Avenue and south only in Barbadoes Street between the! avenues. The two one-way! streets will form an L with! the one-way-traffic in St Asaph Street and Lichfield Street, and the council’s traffic engineers say that this will greatly improve the traffic flow in the inner city. From May to August next year, Kilmore Street (westbound traffic) and Salisbury Street (east-bound traffic) will become one-way streets. Durham Street (south bound) and Montreal Street (north bound, with a diversion round the east side of Cranmer Square) will complete the square of one-way streets round the city centre in 1972. Durham Street and Montreal Street are being left to the last because the heaviest volume of traffic entering and leaving the inner city is from the north-west. The sub-committee which