NEW MOUNT VICTORIA TUNNEL

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 267, 7 August 1929, Page 11

NEW MOUNT VICTORIA TUNNEL

♦ CITY APPROACH MAY BE CHANGED RECOMMENDATIONS OF ACCESS COMMISSION It Is understood that the Government Loans Board have advised the City Council that in deciding the city approach to the new tunnel through Mount Victoria, it would be the wisest course to follow the recommendations of the Access Commission. This will probably open up the whole question of the route of the city approach, even though it is quite obvious that the Commission’s plan may involve considerably more expense than the course decided upon by the council as the result of the economic position that body found itself in when considering the tunnel contract. It is necessary to explain that th<» City Council is working on the sum of £161,000 plus 10 per cent, that was sanctioned for this work in the loan of 1920. The council, when it was decided to give equal consideration to both eastern and western access, came to the conclusion that the eastern tunnel might be constructed provided they could get a firm tender under the amount of that loan, economising on the approaches by cutting out the recommendation of the Commissioners that the route to the tunnel on the city side should branch off from the junction of Dufferin and Ellice Streets and pursue a diagonal line acros that block of properties immediately to the east of Dufferin Street and come out at the junction of Brougham and Patterson Streets, which would involve a great deal of extra expense, and make the route up Ellice Street, along Brougham Street, and thence by a right angle turn into Patterson Street.

The Access Commission's recommendation for the western approach road was as follows: — The construction of a diagonal approach road on a grade of 1 in 18.8 from the intersection of Dufferin and Ellice Streets to the intersection of Brougham and Patterson Streets, and thence on the southern side of Patterson Street to the western portal. This street would have an overall width of 66ft. to Brougham Street and 64ft. in Patterson Street. The northern part of Patterson Street would remain at existing "rade, but would be decreased in width to 26ft. until the tunnel portal is reached. Shelving the commission si recommendations as to the city approach, the council further decided to carry out the approach work as an unemployment relief work, and in order to do so approached the Loans Board for permission to raise a sum of £15,000, which would carry the usual Government subsidy—that, of course, without having to appeal to the ratepayers. The board, it is understood, has'agreed to the amount asked for, but upon the condition that the council follow the Access Commission’s report respecting the city ppproach to the tunnel. The estimate of the commission for this approach was £39.000, including the acquisition of property, but not allowing for any tramway work. The city engineer’s estimate for the approach, as decided upon by the council, was £11.480: so that there’is a very marked difference in the money the city would have to find if the Loan Board’s dictum is to prevail. There is stated to be no question as to which of the two is the better route; but the council has been actuated by a desire to cut its suit according to its cloth. The manner in which the extra money will have to be raised hns still to be determined.