Road work

Press, 18 March 1983, Page 16

Road work

Sir,—On Saturday morning last at some ungodly hour, the Christchurch City Council in its wisdom saw fit to lay instant roading in parts of Fitzgerald Avenue. A couple of trucks, a tar truck, and roller arrived, distributed tar and shingle with the speed of one possessed; all done in approximately three-quarters of an hour or so, and all before 30,000 or so fans descended upon Lancaster Park for the cricket. Fitzgerald Avenue is a main highway — No. 1 in fact — and has a terrific volume of heavy and light traffic 24 hours a day. How can the council justify a cost of over million just to renovate Heaton Street? Are they going to use mink-coated shingle? — Yours, etc.,

(Mrs) VALMAI HERN. February 27, 1983.

[Mr J. H. Gray, General Manager and Town Clerk, replies: “Fitzgerald Avenue is no longer a State highway having passed to local authority control last year. Resealing of the section referred to by the correspondent was originally programmed for Saturday, February 12, but due to unfavourable weather the work had to be postponed on both February 12 and 19. Because of the expected heavy build-up of traffic, work was done in the early hours of the morning. The foundation of the carriageway in Fitzgerald Avenue is sufficiently strong to carry its heavy traffic for the next few years provided reseals are carried out when required. Unfortunately the foundation in Heaton Street is inadequate and reconstruction is necessary.”]