JOHNSTON STREET LOOP

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 50, 27 August 1924, Page 5

JOHNSTON STREET LOOP

CUEVE BEING EASED'1 OUT. >

. lii reply: to a letter addressed" to the Town Clerk by Councillor Parton recently) suggesting that further consideration should be given the lay-out of the Johnston street tramway, loop 'line in order that a possible \danger point at Kirkcaldie's corner might be avoided; the following reply has now being received :— "Referring to your, letter of 16th* hist., with respect to. the radius of the curve - on the Johnston street loop leading!' to Lambton quay, I have to inform youthat the . Tramways Manager repurts that when the-work was'started it was the intention to set-back the kerbing a distance of nine feet from the" line marked on the roadway. Negotiations were, however, in hand with the Public WoVks Department to allow the'"-curve to- he modified so as.-to allow a clearance of 11 feet from.the kerb to the.-rail' without interfering with ■• Messrs. Kirkcaldie and Stains' verandah.

_The approval of the Department has .since been obtained td this variation, and iit is proposed to construct tho -curve accordingly." .*"■-.- v Councillor : Parton, commenting upon the- reply received, said that it was very gratifying that notice had been taken and. that the officers had approved of the suggestion made. The settiug-bac'k of the rails a further distance from the kerb would do something to remove a dunger spot. ' '' .' Lively surprise has been expressed at the -intention of the Corporation as shown, by the fact that the tram lines are being laid slightly below the present .leve of .the roadway, "to ' regrade the whole width of- Johnston street, the <*en■eral impression Jbeing,,that the layin'n- of a smgle set) of tram tracks would not entail tho breakmg-up. of the wholo width of permanent paving, particularly as -it is in good condition. The reply made is that a regrading—or recross- x falling—oE the full width is necessary as the roadway, when surfaced with tar macadam, \ was given too high a crown j and that, that crown is dangerous to horse traffic in wet weather.