COMMISSION'S REPORT

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 126, 30 May 1928, Page 5

COMMISSION'S REPORT

ACCESS TO EASTERN SUBURBS "in forming an opinion as to the most suitable means of access to the eastern suburbs," states the report, "the Commission was largely influenced not only by the necessity for providing a direct route enabling quick means of transit to the ■ business centre of the city and to the railway station, but also to the area known as the Te Aro Flat, which is now in process of development and which will, no doubt, in the near future be largely used for industrial and commercial purposes. The Commission considers that the requirements in this connection would be best met by the construction, of a tunnel capable of accommodating both tramcars ; and motor vehicles, debouching 011 the western side near the Basin Reserve, and thereby giving easy communication to the Te Aro Wat area, to the western suburbs via Buckle street (when that street is extended to Willis street), and also via Courtenay place to the Post Office, business centres, and to the railway station. "The Commission is of opinion that the eastern 'portal of the tunnel should bo located so rfs to give as direct a connection as possible to ■ the Kilbirnie Post Office, but should not be located too far south as to be inconvenient for vehicular and pedestrian traffic to and from Hataitai. "Three tunnel routes to the eastern suburbs appeal to the Commission as complying with the conditions outlined. These routes are as follow:— Via Ellico street (Route No. E 8). "This ruote is via Elliee street from the north-eastern corner of the Basin Reserve, rising on a grade of 1 in 16 to the western end of the tunnel, immediately below Austin street. This route involves considerable regrading of Ellice street. The tunnel would bo 1070 foot long on a rising grade o£ 1 in 43, which grade could be considerably improved by increasing the length of the tunnel. The eastern approach road would be on v grade of 1 in 18.8. ■ "The • reconstruction and widening of Ellice street would entail extensive acquisition of and interference to private property. . . ■ Via Patterson street (Route No. E 9). "A second route suggested is via PatteiS son street. The eastern portal would be within 650 feet o£ Moxham avenue and roads thereform could be constructed both to that street and to Kuahine street, on a grade of 1 in 23. The western portal would be near the eastern end of Patterson street, access to. which point could be obtained by a road taken from Dufferin street at the Basin Reserve, through private property. Access to property on the north ■ side of Patterson street would be provided by leaving the existing road at a reduced width, an approach grade of 1 in 18 being obtained by cutting down Patterson street from the college gate to the western portal near the Girls' College. The tunnel would be 2217 feet long on a rising grade of 1 in 63 to the eastern portal. Apart from the acquisition of private property already referred to, this route creates a minimum amount of disturbance of existing interests, and provides a reasonable direct route on suitable grades between the city and all the eastern suburbs. Via Wellington College Grounds (Route No. E 10). "A third route could be obtained via the Wellington College grounds, between the' Boys' and Girls' Colleges, by the construction of a tunnel 1750 feet long with approach grades on both sides of 1 in 18, the tunnel itself being on a grade of 1 in 400. Property (apart from the Wellington College grounds) would have to be acquired from the western end of Patterson street to the Basin Reserve. Connecting roads from the eastern portal to Hataitai and to Ruahine street could' be constructed on suitable grades. This route varies somewhat from the line recommended by the late Mr. Morton in 1010 und 1914, nnd involves less interference with the college grounds. "The objections to this route arc, lirstly, the disturbance of the college grounds, the compensation in regard to which the Commission considers would be excessively high and would render the scheme almost impracticable, and, secondly, the distance of the eastern portal from Ilataitai. The route, however, possesses distinct advantages from an engineering standpoint on account 'of the lesser length and easier grade of the tunnel. . - Other Routes Proposed. "The other tunnel routes suggested, situated to the north side of those abovementioned, while possessing certiiiu advantages, do not offer: such efficient means for the co-ordination of traffic, and are not, in the opinion of the Commission, as suitable as the three already described. "The suggested routes through the hospital grounds as> in the opinion of the Commission, too far south to give reasonable direct access between live eastern suburbs and the city, and, _ further, the adoption of any of these routes would increase the congestion of traffic at present existing in Adelaide road. "The waterfront route via Oriental Bay and Evans Bay, while possessing the advantage of a good gradient, is 100 circuitous to give rapid means of communication between the city and the suburbs to be served. This route is, however, at present used for heavy motor traffic, and will, no doubt, continue, to.be. so used, but a deviation of the road at the Patent Slip, to obviate periodical stoppages while the Patent Slip is in operation, will be required as the traffic develops. "The suggested route via Hawker street, and by a new road below Palliser

road to ltoseneath and thence to Ilatailai is, .in the opinion of the Commission, quite unsuitable as a main traffic route to the eastern suburbs. THE RECOMMENDATIONS. "After a careful examination of all the proposals outlined, the Commission recommends the addition of the following scheme as the most suitable moans of giving access to the eastern suburbs for the purpose of pedestrian and vehicular traffic, including trams and buses:— (1) The construction of a tunnel 2217 feet long under Mount Victoria on a grade of 1 in li 3, having its western portal situated in Patterson street 170 yards east of Brougham street intersection, and its eastern portal in the Town Belt 190 yards west of Moxham. avenue. Its internal dimensions would be 28ft Gin , wide by 10ft Gin high, providing a carriageway 20ft 6in between kerbs and a raised footpath 6ft Oin wide, protected 'by a handrail on the outer edge. This raised footpath would form the roof of a ventilating duct sft Gin x sft Oin. It is proposed to lay a double line of tramway in the tunnel so that vehicle traffic could follow the same line as in the Seatoun and Karori tunnels, and if, in the future, it is found necessary to duplicate this tunnel, the northern tram track could be transferrecl'to the new tunnel and the two tunnels used respectively for1 two lines of one-way traffic. As already noted, provision is made for the artificial ventilation of the tunnel, should the presence of exhaust gases from motor vehicles render this necessary, but it is suggested that as the tunnel follows one grade, it may be found self-ventilating. (2) The construction of a diagonal approach road on a grade of 1 in 18.8 from the intersection of Dufferin street and Ellice street to the intersection of Brougham street and Patterson street, and thence on the southern side of Patterson street to the western portal. This street Would have an overall width of GGft to Brougham street and Gift in Patterson street. The northern part of Patterson street would remain at existing grade, but be decreased in width to 2Gft until.the tunnel portal is reached. (3) The construction of two curved approach ' roads from the eastern portal, one leadiug through Corporation property to Moxham avenue 70 yards south of, Waitoa road intersection and the other I to Tapiri street to give tramway connection with the existing lines in Moxham avenue. (ftj) The subsequent construction of a, new road on the lino of Ruahine street . to a point opposite the tramway right-of-way, and thence diagonally through private property, crossing Moxham avenue, and following through private property to the intersection of Wellington road and Kilbirnio crescent. From this point the present tramway route would be followed to Kilbirnie Post Office, but when the reclamation at the head of Evans Bay is carried out, direct access could be obtained to Miramar via Evans' Bay and across the reclamation. "Under this scheme it is suggested that the existing Hataitai tunnel should be utilised for Hataitai tramway traflic only, thus providing a better service to that suburb, while maintaining the existing service to the residential district on the western slopes of Mount Victoria. "The,following is the estimated cost of the above proposals, but, as already indicated, No. 4 can bo postponed to a later date, although the necessary property should be acquired on the adoption of the scheme: — £ £ No. I—Tunnel exclusive of tramway 159,024 No. 2—Western approach v road, including property . acquisition, but excluding tramway 39,000 No. 3 —Eastern approach road, but exclusive of tramway IG,BOO 215,424 ; Engineering contingencies, 10 per cent. .... 21,542 Tramway tracks 21,150 s- 258,110 .. Say 2G0.000' No. 4—Extension of Riuihine street to Wellington road, including acquisition of property, but excluding tramway 3SJJO Engineering contingencies. 10 per cent. .... 3,874 * Tramway tracks ...... 13,720 50,340 . Say ..,...' 57,000 Cost of complete scheme, includ- 57,000 ing all constructional and engineering costs, together with an allowance for acquisition of property, but exclusive of all . other charges ..■. £317,000