Terrace Overbridge Supported

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32394, 5 September 1970, Page 1

Terrace Overbridge Supported

Objections by the Christchurch Regional Planning Authority, the Waimairi County Council, and Mr R. R. Livingstone to the City Council varying its district review scheme to delete an overbridge where the Hagley Park portion of the Fen-dalton-Avonside motorway intersects with Park Terrace at Salisbury Street were heard yesterday. The committee hearing the objections—the Deputy Ma: r (Cr H. P. Smith), chairman, and Crs W. V. Cowles and R. H. Stewart—reserved its decision.

The City Council proposes to bridge the Avon River with the motorway at the level of Park Terrace instead of using an overbridge to cross the terrace to Salisbury Street. The variation to the review scheme deletes all reference to the overbridge proposal. The City Planner (Mr R. M Critchley) said in evidence that the Town and Country Planning Act recognised that matters shown in a district scheme may need to be altered but he considered that such alterations should not be made lightly, otherwise public confidence in the dis-

trict scheme might be undermined.

“It is better, therefore, that if a particular provision is likely to be implemented within the 20-year planning period, or even later, that it should remain part of the scheme, rather than be removed and have to be reinstated subsequently or make do with something inferior,” be said.

Regarding the present variation, the subject of the hearing, there appeared to be no intention or likelihood of implementing the provision (an overhead bridge) before the next five-year review of the district scheme. Therefore, it would be better for the proposed variation to be dealt with at the next review, likely to be in 1976, Mr Critchley said.

Mr J. N. Matson, for the Regional Planning Authority, submitted that the overbridge proposal be left in the district scheme. The city’s district scheme was part of the regional scheme, and the master transport plan was for both the city and the region.

The Fendalton - Avonside motorway was planned to attract traffic from other roads and to take traffic at 40 miles an hour. A level intersection

of the motorway and Park Terrace—presumably controlled by lights with a 30-mile-an-hour limit at the intersection—would slow traffic on the motorway. Stopping and starting at controlled intersections meant spoiling the amenities of those in the neighbourhood, because of revving engines and grinding gears. An overbridge would eliminate that. If an overbridge was kept in the scheme as an ultimate aim, the bridges and roundabout roadwork could be planned with that in view, and would not have to be de-' molished to make way for an overbridge. If the overbridge was not kept in mind, time and money could be wasted when, or if, it became a necessity. Counsel submitted that it would be easier to delete the provision for an overbridge at a later date if it were found not to be needed, and less costly, than to eliminate now and reinstate it.

Mr G. W. Main, traffic engineer with the Regional Planning Authority, gave evidence that the overbridge would be required within the planning period to enable the Fendalton-Avonside motorway to carry the traffic envisaged

in the city and region, ile said that the motorway wpuld have to be grade-separated at Montreal and Durham Streets regardless of the situation at Park Terrace, now and ultimately. Preliminary investigations carried out had shown no acceptable method of grade separation at Montreal Street if the motorway was t ground level at Park Terrace. A written objection from the Waimairi County Council, party to the master transportation plan, said it supported the planning authority’s objection. At the time of the construction of the central section of the FendaltonAvonside motorway, it could well be necessary that the motorway be elevated and' grade separated from Park Terrace. Therefore, the proposed variation should be abandoned.

Mr R. R. Livingstone wrote to say that if there was to be no overbridge across Park Terrace, then Harper Avenue should be widened; the Carlton Mill bridge widened and Bealey Avenue elevated from the bridge to across Papanui Road; Park Terrace put under the elevated Bealey Avenue; and the proposed new road across the park abandoned.