MENACE TO TRAFFIC

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 88, 11 March 1930, Page 2

MENACE TO TRAFFIC

COOK STREET CROSSING. COUNCIL SUGGESTS SUBWAY. Dangers which menaced traffic at the Cook Street railway crossing were emphasised at the Borough Council meeting last evening, when the matter of closing the road was brought forward. While realising t.ie dangerous nature of the crossing, the council felt that it should not be lost as a means of road uccess altogether, and suggestions were advanced for the construction of an overhead ramp or a vehicular subway. Cr. Eliott stated that Cook Street had originally been dedicated to the Railway Department as a road because the department claimed that it was its property. He thought it would be well for Cook Street to be closed. It provided one of the most dangerous railway crossings in New Zealand and it was marvellous that no loss of life had occurred. Recently, the occupants of a van caught on the crossing escaped in miraculous manner. Every time a vehicle went over the crossing its occupants risked their lives. Motor-cars could easily go round via the West Street crossing while pedestrians could use the existing overhead bridge. He thought the road should be closed before there were any additions to the long list of level crossing fatalities, and he moved to that effect. INVESTIGATION ÜBfGED. Cr. Tremaine took the view that the council should make no recommendation for the closing of the crossing until the matter had been more fully investigated. There were so many lines that drivers were naturally ivery cautious in negotiating the crossing. It was one place at least where they recognised tlie compulsory stop sign and the danger which it portended. It was the exception rather than the rule for a motorist to go through without first stopping his car in Cook Street. Recognition of the danger had saved accidents. There, had been more collisions at any other crossing along the Main Street route than at Cook Street. If Cook Street were closed a subway sufficiently large to accommodate cars would have to be provided. Expressing his opposition to the closing of the Cook Street crossing altogether, Cr. Hodgens said they should insist on it bein'g replaced with a road subwav or overhead ramp. Palmerston North would very shortly be a city, and one of its avenues of approach would be closed. The Railway Department had squandered much money on the far side of the town, and had erected the overhead bridge on Milson Line at a cost of thousands of pounds, in addition ip contemplating others. Surely the council was justified in asking for an overhead ramp to bo built, or, if that proved to be an engineering impossibility, for a traffic subway. He had always objected to the closing of the Cook Street access to the town, and considered that it would be a breach of trust to those persons owning property in the vicinity. He moved as an amendment that the council ask the Railway Department to give consideration to the erection of a ramp over or a subway under the Cook Street crossing. He noticed that various organisations had been passing resolutions urging tho closing of the street. The council was representative of the people and its opinions should come first. He took strong exception to the party resolutions. It would be a retrograde step to close the crossing completely.

APPOINTAIENT OF KEEPERS. Cr. Tremaine suggested that, in addition to the alternatives mentioned, the Railway Department should take up the question of the appointment of keepers at tho crossing. The Alayor intimated that the General Alanager of Railways had said he would not consider crossing keepers. The Alayor added that he was convinced that the first move for the closing of Cook Street should come from the Railway Department. The council could then dictate its own terms. Support for Cr. Hodgens’s attitude was voiced by Cr. Fitzherbert, who said the best solution to the trouble was a ramp to take traffic overhead. They ought to bestir the department to tho situation and have the ramp construction. “A DEATH TRAP.” Cr. Clausen said he could not recall an accident at the crossing for the past thirty years. Cr. Eliott stated that two or three days ago a woman missed death by inches. “No doubt, vt is a death-trap to Palmerston North,” commented the Alayor. Cr. McLeod said all were cognisant of the danger which existed at tho crossings. When the Railway Department could spend £30,000 on improvements it couhl easily spare another £2OOO or £3OOO to make the crossing safe. The amendment was carried.