TRAFFIC GROWTH

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 134, 3 December 1936, Page 10

TRAFFIC GROWTH

EASTERN ACCESS

APPROACH TO TUNNEL

BOTTLENECK PROBLEM

With the growth of Wellington fresh traffic problems present themselves, and if the 1940 Exhibition is -to ba looked on as a certainty its intensification of some of those problems because of the influx of visitors has to be considered. The site of the Exhibition, even the narrowing down of various sites suggested by private., individuals, has not been announced yet. Perhaps it would be premature at this stage, but if an eastern site survived criticisms—and few others that merit consideration have the same open spaces —the problem of eastern traffic would demand attention. The tramways aspect would offer few difficulties, but a very large and increasing proportion of the traffic is by motor. It is significant that the number of visitors to New Zealand who bring their^ own cars with them, or hire or purchase cars during their tour of these islands, is increasing, and it would be strange, if, in Exhibition year, many of those who come, to "take in" New Zealand's Centennial did not add to what congestion exists in Wellington then.

Wellington, of course, has no traffic problems such as beset the larger cities, but the fact that Buenos Aires, with 3,000,000 people, is finding oneway traffic its best solution of its own problems,, and that this solution has already been mentioned in Wellington, shows that this city has its eyes on future traffic possibilities. Eastern and southern traffic is already fairly heavy, at any rate at peak periods. One place whera this is noticeable is in lower Ellice Street, where the southern traffic joins the eastern traffic through the Mount Victoria tunnel, and it would need very little additional traffic here to cause congestion or delays. DIAGONAL "ACCESS. Traffic eastwards would seem to have ample outlet, as it can go by three ways, round the Marine Parade, over ..Constable Street, or through the tunnel. Motorists like direct routes, however, and while the tunnel route offers a shorter run and only a light grade, the other two routes are not likely to be so popular. If the bulk of the eastern traffic is to go through the Mount Victoria tunnel, then, if certainty is achieved regarding an exhibition on an eastern site, the question of .putting in the diagonal western access to the. tunnel could with advantage be revived. The present access is by Ellice Street, some of it direct from the Basin Reserve, and some by way of Majoribanks Street and intervening thoroughfares. It has been the subject of much criticism, and, whether the increased speeds now permitted leading up to it will make it safer is open to question. It is evident that the City Council has not lost sight of the diagonal access because the building line of its surveyed route has been kept clear. Diagonal access to the tunnel would divert some of the motor traffic from the lower part of Ellice Street, and thus ease the position there, but a fur- 1 ther' easement of the probable congestion there would be the diversion of southern traffic from Adelaide Road round to the south of the Basin Reserve. The provision of adequate access between Adelaide Road and Buckle Street should not prove difficult. Buckle Street already has a building line, and as it passes in front of the National Group, will ultimately look well at its full width. The ultimate widening of Taranaki Street to 84ft along its entire length would complete a first-rate route for Constable Street, and Newtown' and Island Bay traffic, besides easing lower Ellice Street.. RISK OF CONGESTION. The density of traffic in-lower Ellice Street at the confluence o:f the.tunnel and southern streams is rather emphasised than otherwise by the freedom given in Kent and Cambridge Terraces by the ample one-way room, and m the future, of course, the question of a virtual bottleneck in lower Ellice Street will present itself. If traffic increases the way- it has done during the last twelve monttis, and there is every reason to suppose it will, it is reasonable to imagine that with the holding of the Exhibition in three years more, it win be perilously near reaching tne congestion stage in this bottleneck. A good deal of heavy traffic will be needed to cope with the constructional period of the great show, and though so far it is only in the future, such a problem would be none the worse if provided for now. --"•-•■•