Intersection study

Press, 7 May 1981, Page 4

Intersection study

Accident-prone... -■ Christchurch intersections will be studied by the City Council to see if physical improvements could ease the problems. . <One factor in the city’s accident rate, higher than in Auckland and Wellington, is the' large number of controlled intersections. Yesterday, the council’s '< works and traffic committee said that a list of the 20 most . dangerous . intersections should be drawn up, with, recommendations for prior-' ity: improvements from* the Traffic Engineer (Mr M. L. Gadd). ! Accident rates before and after past intersection improvements will also be studied. Lifeboat slipway Councillors will consider how much future money to give to the Sumner Lifeboat ■ Institution . for* . slipway Z

strengthening when a heavier boat is bought. Salt water corrosion and marine damage over the years meant that more durable materials such as reinforced concrete might be needed to replace the present timbers, according to a staff engineering report. It could cost $31,000 to rebuild the slipway with spe-cially-treated : 'hardwood beams. The cost of concrete • beams -with timber crossmembers and decking could, be $48,000. . ' , ; Councillors were told lhat. a new lifeboat might be bought in about five years; Slipway finance might be available from other sources, such as Ministry of Recreation and Sport,ahd/or lottery funds.' - - . At one time in the past, the City Council was supported by other metropolitan local bodies, through a costsharing scheme. The city ■ paid'; for two-thirds of the slipway repair post, while-

the other councils shared in proportion to the capital value of their districts. L.P.G. in cars A council car converted to L.P.G. use t could achieve an annual fuel cost saving over petrol of about $l7O after the proposed future price of L.P.G. was lowered. The test Toyota was converted in late 1979. In the last year it got 26.56 miles a . gallon on the fuel, compared with 32,79 miles a gallon for a comparable model on petrot ' Petrol is more expensive than L.P.G., but a road tax of >8.02 per 1000 km for; L.P.G. use has to be addgd >tb : that, making the cost of travtlling 100 km. on petrol" cheaper than on L.P.G. ’’ . ‘ However, the prpposed future price of L.P.G. could be between 32c and 37c a litre, including road tax. The present petrol price is 58c a litre.