NEW ROAD OUT

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 33, 8 August 1933, Page 8

NEW ROAD OUT

WATERLOO QUAY ROUTE

LEVEL CROSSING OPPOSED

THE TRAFFIC FIGURES

As nn alternative to I'horndon Quay ;jk (in outlet from tho city to tlio Hutt Bond, tho thoroughfare which leads to Mio Ji'lontiriK Dock is being extended uerosfl the reclamation and tho railway linen to join tho Hutt ltoad just south oi' KiiiwiuTu. Considering tho importance and tho curtain popularity of tho "now road, and tho fact that with tho completion of tho Tiuv/i iPlnl tunnel scheme, both Manavvatu and Kutt railway traffic will run pilot Knlwurra, tlio Wellington Automobllo Olub in fttrongly advocating tho iSOiistnicUon of v ramp to carry tho road over tho nil I way lino, in preference to a lOVG) fSl'OHHintf. Tlio executive of tho Automobilo Club hud boCoro it laot night tt comprehen»lvo report on tlio Btibject from its ruuds eonimlfcfcou. " Whon mcmborii of the roads committoo- wiw tho Diiitritt Itailway Enginoiif," niiJd tlio report, "it was learned Mini, thoro was jio proposal to construct mi over-bridgo at tho crowting of the iikw railuimUlon road over the new railway lino (it Kaiwarra. "Tho (fUimliuH «ro»c, during tlio disciihnloil with tho District Engineer, an to tlio number of trains which the new lino will cany and tho amount of traffic oil tlio now road. There arc in tho vicinity of! ono hundred and sixty trains n day prtßsing over tho two'lines (Manawatu and Hutt) at tho present time. 'J'lioao, whew tho new line and yard are completed, will ho concentrated on tho ono not of linen. A suggestion was nmtle by tho District Engineer of Hallways that with electric locomotives and tho reduced grade on the Manawatu lino it will bo possible to increase the haulago and thus reduce the number of trains, but against this is the growth, particularly in goods traffic, which, for obvious reasons, is bound to eventuate. Wo are inclined to the opinion that the present-day-figuro could be taken as tho absolute minimum of future railway traffic. A TRAIN EVERY TWO MINUTES. "Of these ono hundrefl and sixty trains," continued the report, "we would say that there would be no less than forty trains between 7.30 a.m. and 9 a.m. (when the freezing works at Ngahauranga are in full swing, there areas many as twelve shunts between 7 and 8 a.m.), with, say, a similar figure between the hours of 4.30 and 6 p.m. This means that over the peak hours there wijl be a train about every two minutes. ■ ' "If electric flashlights are installed they commence to operate about twenty seconds before the passing of .the train. In any case, by whatever means traffic is controlled, there is always a certain time during which it is held up before tho train approaches. "Boad traffic between 7.30 and 9 a.m. and again between 4.30 and 6 p.m. is also at its peak. When the last traffic tally was taken on the Hutt Boad there were four • thousand vehicles per day making use of it. Som6 doubt exists as to the number of vehicles which will be diverted to the new road. "A-DESIRABLE ALTERNATIVE." "Whereas it. was considered," said the report, "that there would possibly be a number o£ other lines crossing the new reclamation road, the District Bailway Engineer informed us that there are only two lines across tho remainder of the now road, and he expressed tho opinion that the rail traffic on these would be very light. This being the case this road will form a very desirablo alternative to Thorndon Quay with its tram traffic. "Wo think it can be safely assumed that there will be a minimum of twelve hundred' vehicles (the figures may even be taken at fifteen hundred) per day on-the new road, and-of this number there will probably be two hundred and fifty between 7.30 and 9 a.m., and a similar number between 4.30 and 6 p.m. I These figures alone (and they can only be estimated) prove the necessity for the construction of an over-bridge at this point. "Tho usual crossing risks are increased in this case by reason, of:—(1) The silent approach of electric locomotives. (2) Their higher speed in relation to steam locomotives.. (3) The absence of smoke which in the case of steam locomotives acts largely as a warning. (4) The proximity of the crossing to- the city, with possible confusion of lights. (5) The heavy traffic, particularly train traffic, and (6) the proximity of the crossing to the junction of the reclamation >road with tho important Hutt Boad. "In' addition to the safoty point of view there is, of course, the delay which inevitably occurs, and such delay would bo particularly bad during tho peak hours of traffic. THE DEPARTMENT'S ATTITUDE. "Wo cannot help thinking," reported the committee, "that the Bailway Department's attitude is 'why should tho Department provide the facility of an over-bridge for the use of its competitors?' Jn adopting this attitude tho Department is entirely overlooking the public danger point of view. In every part of the world money is being provided jointly by the railways and roading authorities for the elimination of railway level crossings, and. yet on what will be one of the busiest lines in New Zealand it is proposed to construct a level crossing. "A comparison has been made with the Pctone crossing, but there will no more than double the number of trains at this crossing, and after all tho number of trains is the most important factor. ■ : SMALL PERCENTAGE COST. "Although tho cost will no doubt run into fivo figures, in relation to the total cost of tho comprehensive scheme, including tho new line to Johnsonville, reclamation, now railway yard and station, it forms but a very small percentage, and wo feel that thero is a responsibility on'the executive to demand tho construction of an over-bridge at what must provo to bo the most dangerous crossing in New Zealand. ■ "As far as the physical conditions aro concerned, the plan which the District Railway Engineer produced showed iln committee that a good grado and ".urvature are obtainablo on to a ramp," said tho committee in conclusion. "Ono of the most Important matters that havo ever come before the club," was Mr. E. P. Hay's description of the subject. ! It was docided on the motion of Mr. H. F Toogood that the roads committee mid tho chairman of the executive (Mr. K. A. Batt) be asked to wait upon tho Mayor to ascertain his views, and endoavour to obtain his support in bringing the City Council and tho Bailway Department togeth°'- for the discussion of their mutual interests and the safety of tho vehicular traffic at the proposed crossing.