JERVOIS QUAY

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 118, 15 November 1945, Page 6

JERVOIS QUAY

WIDENING PROPOSAL

LOCAL BODY DISCUSSION

Important proposals for a widening of Jervois Quay by 32 feet were outlined by the Mayor (Mr. Appleton) at. the meeting of the City Council last night. The discussions with the Harbour Board, he said, had been most friendly for the board and its officers had been fully co-operative. The discussions were continuing. "The traffic on Jervois Quay in normal times is heavier than that on any other street in Wellington," said Mr Appleton. "In February, 1938, during a period of 10 hours, 17,600 vehicles passed along the street and during one particular half-hour 1432 vehicles passed. When there were many vehicles unloading from wharf sheds the congestion was pronounced.

TRAFFIC BOTTLENECK,

"The council will soon be faced with the problem of getting more traffic through the bottleneck between Stewart Dawson's corner and the Jervois Quay wharves. The pniy three routes available are Willis Street, Victoria Street, and Jervois Quay, and they are all getting near saturation point. Another possible relief route would be available if a traffic tunnel was constructed under The Terrace, as has already been suggested by several City Engineers, but that would be a very expensive project. "It was once suggested that the harbour should be reclaimed as far out as the Taranaki Street Wharf and that a new roadway should be constructed across to join up with Waterloo Quay. That would be an even more expensive venture, and taking into account the disastrous effect it would have on the Harbour Board's wharves and sheltered shipping space the scheme is quite out of the question. "During the discussions on the civic centre proposals it was suggested that the time could not be far distant when the Harbour Board would improve the Jervois Quay wharfage and shed accommodation and the board's representatives were approached with the suggestion that when preparing their plans provision should also be made for widening the Jervois Quay roadway," continued Mr. Appleton. "Tentative plans have been prepared by the City Council and by the Harbour Board which show that a widening of the roadway is quite feasible. There will be room for two footpaths, two 38ft carriageways, and a separate roadway serving the wharf sheds." Replying to Councillor F. W. Furkert, Mr. Appleton said that consideration had been given to the provision of parking space under the new harbour sheds, but it was found to be not feasible.