TRAFFIC CONTROL

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 69, 19 September 1938, Page 14

TRAFFIC CONTROL

PAST FIRE STATION

NEW EMERGENCY SYSTEM

A plan for the better control of J traffic past the new central Fire Sta--1 tion at Clyde Quay was approved at 1 the monthly meeting of the Wellington Fire Board on Friday. Two emergency traffic lights will be so placed as to prevent south-bound traffic, • brought to a standstill as a result of , the light and siren warnings given l when an engine is about to answer a > call, blocking the Entrance of the engine room. r The new plan is fully explained in . a letter from the superintendent (Mr, i C. A. Woolley) to the board. The letp ter is as follows:— > "It will be remembered that last t December a collission occurred between ' one of the City Council buses and one \ of the board's fire engines, as the en- , gine was clearing the fire station in > response to a fire call. At a subse- ; quent meeting of the board it was de- ; cided that provision be made in the r estimates to cover the cost of an ap- , proved system of traffic control lights. , I}j therefore included an item of £80 [ iti my draft estimates and suggested L that provision should be made to cover [ the cost involved in the installation of the signals. "In the meantime I have given very . careful consideration to this requirement, and after checking the traffic : flow during the peak period between ; 4.30 and 6 p.m., when approximately ' 4000 vehicles pass the station, I am of . the opinion that the only satisfactory system of traffic signal lights is one i designed to operate in conjunction with the alarm bells. "The present arrangement of coni trolling the traffic signal lights at , Courtenay Place by means of a switch i in the watchroom at headquarters sta- ■ tion has proved most satisfactory in i the past, but since taking over the new i Central Station a complete blockage ! occurs directly in front of the engine i room doors when the traffic siren is ■ switched on, particularly during the heavy traffic period. With the red lights against the traffic in all directions at Courtenay Place, a continuous ■ line of motor-vehicles extending from Courtenay Place to beyond the corner of Chaffers Street in Wakefield Street is brought to a standstill. In order to relieve the blockage immediately •in front of the engine-room doors, it will be necessary to make a slight alteration controlling the traffic lights at Courtenay Place, and install two light standards, one outside the bowser station opposite the Fire Station, and . one just beyond the side entrance to the station yard. TO CLEAR TRAFFIC. ; "The suggested alteration to the light ; provides for one green light only at • Courtenay Place to permit south-bound 1 traffic freedom to move, while vehicular and pedestrian traffic is held up in every other direction by the remaiii- . ing lights automatically switching over to red. The cost of running aerials from' the Fire Station to Courtenay Place to operate the lights is approximately £6 10s. The traffic will be held at the bowser station corner and in Oriental Parade by the red lights, while the vehicles beyond these two points indicated will be free to clear the Fire Station, and in all probability would clear Courtenay Place before the fire engines turn out. "I have discussed the arrangement with the Chief Traffic Inspector (Mr. L. Drake) and the Superintendent of the City Council's overhead department (Mr. Malcolm), and both are in agreement with my proposals. Mr. Malcolm has furnished me with an estimate of £51 for the complete outside installation indicated above, and I recommend that the board adopt this further addi- i tion to the existing system of traffic : control lights at Courtenay Place, and that I be authorised to purchase the j necessary panel connections and time switches costing approximately £20 1 The work of installing the watchroom i equipment would be carried out by ] the board's staff. It will be noted j that provision was made for sirens to < operate in conjunction with the traffic ] lights, but owing to the possibility of confusion I have decided to eliminate" ( these and retain only- the existing , sirens installed at Courtenay Place and 1 at the station. 1 "I have discussed the question of ] fire engines proceeding against the i red lights at street intersections with ] j the Inspector of Fire Brigades, and have < been informed that representations i were made to the Transport Depart- 1 ment for an alteration in the existing ( traffic regulations giving fire engines ( the right of way when the red lights t are against vehicular traffic. The De- i partment has advised that the question ( has been noted for consideration." s The work is to be proceeded with at I once. c