THE EASTERN OUTLOOK

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 26, 31 January 1924, Page 9

THE EASTERN OUTLOOK

ANOTHER TUNNEL PfiOPOSAL

RIXON GROVE ROUTE.

The scheme adopted by the City Council some weeks ago for providing additional tunnel access to tlie eastern suburbs does not thoroughly satisty some i of the ratepayers affected, and there is a possibility that a further suggestion as to the course of the route wtfl be considered by the council. Plans for an alternative route were submitted to the Works Committee yesterday by a deputation from the Wellington Civic Leayue, and representations will probably ° be made to the City Council at its next meeting. The proposal'is that the tunnel should pierce Alt. Victoria on the eastern side at Rixon grove, a little to tile north of Pirie street, and that traffic should emerge oh the,'eastern side of the hill very near the eastern mouth of the. existing tram tunnel. It is suggested that the western approach should be a sweeping curve, from the bottom portion of Elizabeth street into Queen street, rounding off two corners and involving the payment of compensation to certain property owners. \ ■ FULLY CONSIDERED. Mr. D. M'Laren, secretary of the Civic League, in explaining the scheme to the committee, said that the question of tunnel routes had been fully considered by the league, which had been impressed with the need for providing for the tremendous growth of population on the eastern side of the city. The quickest means of relieving the increasing wheeled traffic at Courtenay place should be adopted. They were strongly of opinion that an addition to the tramway tracks facilities should be given in the construction of a tunnel for vehicular traffic. The City Council's scheme in tlieir opinion involved too, narrow a tunnel for both tramway and vehicular traffic. They also took exception to the adopted proposal on account of the banking up of properties through the necessity for lowering the level of the roads that would be traversed. He proceeded to explain the route outlined above, an* remarked that the grade would be equal' to that of. the Ellice street scheme. The total length of the tunnel would ,be about half a mile, and the route would be two and a quarter chains 'shorter than any other proposal that had been submitted. The scheme involved the payment of compensation in respect of several properties that would be affected, 'and *the league estimated that the cost would be about £20,000. If a double tram track was provided, the width of the tunnel should be 40 or: 42 f eet . Another suggestion was that.one-way tram traffic should be adopted through both tunnels. This, would leave greater width for the passage of other traffic. The league's estimate of the total cost was about £120,000. They asked that all the routes suggested, .with the plans and costs, should be fully investigated before any work was undertaken; that a thorough and comprehensive report be prepared giving detailed estimates of the costs involved in making the tunnels and ap^ proaches ; and that consideration be given to the one-way traffic suggestion. Thev particularly stressed the need for ample room ,for vehicular traffic. THE ELLICE STREET SCHEME. : The chairman,pointed out that the council had already adopted the Ellice , street scheme, and so he doubted wheth|er the deputation would get anywhere m its representations by addressine the committee. They would be better advised to approach the council itself. _This view was endorsed by Councillor H. D. Bennett. Councillor G Mitchell pointed out that the committee could make no recommendation to the council as the council had already come to a decision in respect to the route Mr. M'Laren, after conferring with his colleagues, agreed that it would be better to wait on, the council. • : After further discussion, the' deputation agreed to approach the council at its next meeting, the committee promts-1 mg to recommend the council to give them a hearing.