TRAFFIC CONTROL

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 18, 21 July 1939, Page 11

TRAFFIC CONTROL

NEW SET OF LIGHTS

DIVIDED ROADWAY

A start has been made with the installation of the traffic control lights for the Taranaki Street, Wakefield Street, and Jervois Quay intersection, one of the most difficult control points in Wellington, and by a wide margin carrying the heaviest motor traffic in the city. Jervois Quay alone carries 19,000 cars and trucks in a ten-hour traffic day, and the acute congestion in the shopping streets during . peak hours has resulted in a great increase in traffic in Wakefield Street. In the absence of comparative figures a definite statement cannot be made, but it is probable that the traffic density at this intersection is the heaviest in New Zealand.

Because the intersection is wide traffic now often banks up two and three abreast, waiting for the signal to go, but with the pad system of control traffic lines must be-clearly separated so that vehicles, which are to make a turn will press turn pads and not operate straight ahead lights. The roadway in Jervois Quay is therefore being divided by a narrow island, 90ft Jong, carrying light signals and also bollards to be lit up at night.

The Featherston Sti*eet-Bunny Street intex'section continues to cause a good deal of delay between 4 and 6 p m for Waterloo Quay is still closed between Bunny and Whitmore Streets. but not for long now. The last of the concrete foundation was laid yesterday, and the bituminous running surface will be laid down as soon as the bed is matured. Tram track work is in hand in this length of the quay, the points and switch work at the junction with the main tracks at Whitmore Street being practically completed. The bad weather of the last week or two has stopped bituminous paving work in the main length of Waterloo Quay, but will be recommenced as soon as conditions are reasonably good. The whole job should be completed by the end of August. and probably before that. The immediate result will be a far more general use of Waterloo and Aotea and the Thorndon. ramp.