TUNNEL APPROACHES

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 27, 1 August 1932, Page 9

TUNNEL APPROACHES

MORE LIGHTING NEEDED

INEFFECTIVE WARNING

LAMPS

There have been many complaints of the danger of the present approaches to the Mount A rietoria tunnel, particularly on tlyj city side, and a scries of mishaps hiis confirmed those complaints. City Councillors have admitted that the danger is real and that probably it cannot be removed until such time as the diagonal road is constructed to connect the tunnel"roadway direct with Dufferin street,'at the Basin Reserve. This work will no vdoubt be proceeded with eventually,- but at present times are hard and money is short. The present approach from Ellico streeris complicated by the fairly stiff rise to the turn into Brougham street, making it necessary for motorists to travel at a fair speed, , and the position is made worse by the blocking of the view by a garage. on the corner. It has been suggested that this garage should be removed, but, again, finance comes into the question.

At night the danger to pedestrians is worse than in the daytime, and it has been suggested that a partial cure at least, could be effected if a powerful overhead light was provided at the inter-section in place of the moderate pole light- now; doing duty. : The polo light, a '.'PostV .reporter was told by\ a motorist * to-day, is quite insufficient to show up pedestrians crossing the Toadway and, in fact, tends to confuse as- the headlights swing at the turn. • . .. '

Another point, was mentioned, in regard to the. warning lights whieli are shown in the event of a tunnel blockage. They were'- used, probably for the first time, on Friday evening, when a firo near the- Hataitai approach Toad resulted in a liold:up of traffic, through, the hoses being laid across Moxham avenue, and through sight-seeing. The Ted warning, lights were switched on, but apparently no one noticed them. In his opinion the lights were placed too high above the Toadway and were quite ineffective, in that they were steady lights, Flashing lights, such as arc used on railway crossings would compel attention and effectively stop traffic. As a result of the non-observance of the signals at tho city end and the block at the other end'the tunnel pretty well filled with cars with slow running engines, Just the conditions making for danger from carbon monoxide gas poisoning. 2s To trouble did follow, he said, but that experience should draw attention to the need of some better device than has been installed.

"There is another small matter to be looked into/' said Detective-Sergeant Revcll when applying for a remand in the Magistrate's Court to-day in the case of George Edgar Robertson, a'bookkeeper, aged 01, who is charged with stealing £25 9s 4d from the Wellington Relief Workers' Football Club. The remand -was granted.