ROUTES INTO CITY

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 34, 10 February 1939, Page 10

ROUTES INTO CITY

DUAL ACCESS NEEDED

MAYOR'S REPLY TO MR.

TURRELL

TRAMS MUST STAY

That there was room for both traffic into the city and legitimate harbour requirements in connection with the new Aotea Quay-Waterloo Quay road, was the opinion given today by the Mayor (Mr. T. C. A. Hislop) when interviewed with regard to the statements made in an interview on Wednesday by the chairman of the Wellington Harbour Board (Mr. C. M. Turrell), who emphasised the needs of port traffic. Mr. Hislop made it plain, however, that any further encroachments on the new road in the form of railway lines or otherwise, could only be put there with the consent of the ■ City Council. There could be no question of removing the trams from Thorndon Quay. "The matters referred to by Mr. Turrell were generally considered prior to the scheme for the ramp and road down Aotea Quay and Waterloo Quay being completed and put into operation," said Mr. Hislop. "Various matters concerning traffic both to the city and wharves were the subject of discussion with the Harbour Board, City Council, and Railway Department" before the general scheme was approved by all concerned and put into operajtion. There will, in fact, be no further railway crossings over the road than exist at present. "To facilitate the working of the wharves a special service road is being put in on the wharf side of Waterloo Quay, and is at present in course of construction in conjunction with the main reconstruction of Waterloo Quay, and similar facilities also exist in Aotea Quay, where there is a first-class 40ftwide independent roadway' on the waterfront provided exciusively for the Harbour Board's use. THROUGH CITY TRAFFIC. "With regard to the general question of access ways into the city touched upon by Mr. Turrell, it should be clear that it is not a practicable proposition, taking the long view, for j the main traffic into the city to be confined to Thorndon Quay, which feeds into the centre of the city. One of the principal advantages of the new Aotea Quay-Waterloo Quay road is that it takes! traffic to those portions of the city south of the Post Office to its | destination clear of the main thoroughfare from Lambton Quay through the city. It is essential that a-road should ,be provided for this purpose in order [to avoid impossible traffic conditions jin the central portions of the city. "I realise, of course, the necessity of (the Harbour Board making proper i provision for -shipping facilities, but at the same time the general control of traffic through the city is of equal importance. It is therefore necessary that the plans undertaken should allow of the dual access roadways. The takings of property necessary for the widening of Thorndon Quay have been practically completed, and in due course the widening will take place, and Thorndon Quay will then be able to fulfil its function of a main access way into the central portion of the city. The suggestion that trams should be removed from Thorndon Quay is not one which can be seriously cone sidered, with a knowledge of tramway requirements and tramway working. NO FURTHER ENCROACHMENTS. "With regard to the new Aotea QuayWaterloo Quay road any further en- j croachments in the form of railway line or otherwise which the Harbour Board may desire to put across the road will not be able to go there except with the consent of the City Council. The Wellington City Council will take all necessary steps to bejj taken to protect the use of the thoroughfare into the city. "Mr. Turrell's suggestion that the ramp and the road should only be used for the purposes of the waterfront is one which, of course, cannot be seri- j ously considered. I am satisfied that, under efficient management, arrangements can be so carried out as to j enable the legitimate requirements of the Harbour Board to be -met consistent with those of the city. With the two bodies collaborating in this matter, as they have done in many other instances of the past, I am confident that the road will serve the purposes of the city as well as the necessary purposes of the Harbour Board."