Very heavy traffic on Saturday likely

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32540, 25 February 1971, Page 12

Very heavy traffic on Saturday likely

Two major sporting fixtures in Christchurch on Saturday—the interDominion trotting at Addington and the test cricket at Lancaster Park—are expected to result in very heavy traffic both in the city and on the main roads.

The trotting at Addington was expected to attract a record crowd, and the full cooperation of the public would be needed if considerable traffic delays were to ba avoided, the Christchurch city traffic superintendent (Mr A. Goldsmith) said yesterday. People were asked to get to the raceway early; the Ministry of Transport hoped to have everyone in the car parks well before the start of the first race, Mr Goldsmith said. “We are sure we can do this if people will co-operate and obey the directions of traffic officers,” he said.

At Lincoln Road, there was now a new entrance to the raceway car park. This is off the Naim Street extension. There would be an officer on point duty at the intersection of Lincoln Road and Nairn Street to direct traffic up the Naim Street extension in two lines, the aim of this being to avoid any congestion on Lincoln Road. “We would like drivers, when they see the traffic officer, to start forming into two lines,” Mr Goldsmith said. “We want the cars to go into the car park still in two lines and not to come back into just one line." When people were leaving the raceway after the meeting they should again form into two lines—or three lines if they were so directed. One line would be directed left into Lincoln Road to travel to the city, and the other line or lines would be directed ahead into Nairn Street. It was important that people should stay in the lines o f traffic once they were in them, go in the direction indicated by traffic officers, and not try to change lanes, Mr Goldsmith said.

“If everyone stays in their lanes we think we will cleat the car-park in about 45 minutes,” he said.

There would also be heavy traffic on other approaches to the course, and motorists were again asked to comply with the directions of traffic officers and to form extra lines where directed. As well as the raceway car parks, there would be extra car-parking in . the showgrounds, with entrances off Whiteleigh Avenue and Matipo Street, near the railway line. There would be a charge for use of these carparks, he said. Senior Traffic Officer I. W. McLauchlan said there

would also be heavy traffic heading to Lancaster Park for the cricket test. As in the past, buses and taxis would park in Moorhouse Avenue: taxis between Wilsons Road and Lancaster Street, and buses between Lancaster Street and Falsgrave Street. No-stopping restrictions would apply in Stevens Street, Lancaster Street, and part of Wilsons Road. Motorists were asked to comply with the directions of traffic officers, and if possible to get to the park early to avoid congestion. Main-road traffic, particularly on the Main South Road is also expected to be heavy on Saturday.