Local bodies want tunnel in highway system

Press, 1 July 1978, Page 1

Local bodies want tunnel in highway system

Abolition of Lyttelton road tunnel tolls, elimination of the tunnel debt, and incorporation of the tunnel in the State highway system are sought by four local bodies, which met in Christchurch yesterday. Representatives of the Christchurch City Council, the Lyttelton Borough Council,’ the Lyttelton Harbour Board, and the Heathcote County Council sent a telegram to the Minister of Finance (Mr Muldoon) yesterday afternoon seeking these changes in the running of the tunnel. The tunnel should be part of the State highway system without a charge to either users or the ratepayers. the telegram said. The Mayor of Christchurch (Mr H. G. Hay) said that the meeting, and the telegram, confirmed Christchurch City Council policy on the running of the tunnel. Earlier, Mr Hay had said that the City Council did not plan any take-over of the Lyttelton Road Tunnel Authority’. The council had not considered offering to take over the running of the tunnel, as it did not wish to burden its ratepayers with the likelv administration and

maintenance costs of about 8250,000, Mr Hay said. However, he said, the council was anxious to help representations to have the tolls abolished, and this was why it had arranged yesterday’s meeting. The meeting was attended by a representative of the Road Tunnel Authority. Mr Hay said that he had assured the Tunnel Authority that the City Council's sole wish was to be helpful and constructive. and to help reduce the costs of using the tunnel to both private and commercial road-users.