Motorways defended

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33407, 13 December 1973, Page 3

Motorways defended

(.Ntiv Zealand Press Association' WELLINGTON. December 12. Protesters who thwarted urgently needed motorways could actually inflict far worse damage to the environment than would the motorway they were afraid of. the president of the Municipal Association (Mr .1. S. Ihorn) said todax.

"If loading development is slowed or stopped, if the arteries remain congested, the life of a city must stop just as certainly as if its water supply is cut off.” ‘Mr Thorn told the Road (Federation in Wellington. Mr Thorn, who is Mayor [Of Port Chalmers and a memiber of the National Roads 'Board, said that a frequent (criticism was that motorways (attracted more traffic, creat- ; ing congestion in city streets. But no city yet had a complete motorway network. As a result there were short periods of overloading during peak hours. “Overseas experience has shown that where motorway systems are complete and have been co-ordinated with ‘the city streets, overloading is minimised and traffic volumes are reduced.” Mr Thorn said. He acknowledged that, there were many problems with the development of motorways, including the de-, molition of existing neigh(bourhoods and the moving of families to other areas. But the case for motorways did not rest solely on

the need to cater for cars Commercial traffic was essential for a city’s life. “I feel very concerned lest the people who see cars and motorways as destroyers will, by thwarting urgently needed motorway schemes, actually inflict far worse damage to the environment than the motorway they are afraid of. and will prejudice the legitimate desires of many ordinary members of the public, who have just gone steadily on investing in cars at an unabated rate.” Mr Thorn said.