KING STREET TRAFFIC

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 95, 20 March 1940, Page 5

KING STREET TRAFFIC

ONE WAY ONLY. DANGERS OF CONGESTION. As Uic outcome ol representations made to the City Council by the Palmerston North Eire Board that trallic in King Street is frequently congested and that there would l>c difficulty for a fire engine in negotiating the street at such times, the council decided, on Monday, to take steps to institute oneway traffic for all or part of the day. '.i'llo traffic manager (Mr H. J. Smith) reported as follows: —“Congestion occurs there daily, and some years ago the question was before the transit committee, wlion it was suggested that parking of vehicles should be permitted only on one side of the street. This was opposed by the business concerns in that locality who would have been affected bv the proposal. There is a steady, heavy flow of commercial vehicles loading and unloading i.n the vicinity, and with stationary vehicles parked parallel to the kerb there is little room tor through traffic, which has to proceed cautiously. Should the fire engine Ire required there difficulty would be experienced in getting through quickly. In my opinion oneway traffic only should be jiormitted. As the majority of vehicles would enter from Rangitikei Street, vehicles should enter from that end. The difficulty arising here would be commercial vehicles wishing to unload to promises situated on the right-hand side of the street —they would either have to carry the goods across the street or ho permitted to cross over to unload. If the latter were permitted, vehicles would then again bo stationary on both sides of Hie street, as is the case now. An alternative would lie to prohibit the parking of vehicles in the street and permit commercial vehicles to be stationary only for the purpose of loading or unloading goods.” The transit committee submitted a recommendation that the by-laws committee be recommended to alter the by-laws so as to institute one-way traffic i.n King Street, from Rangitikei Street to Princess Street, and that parking be permitted on the left-iuaml side of the thoroughfare, commercial motor-lorries to be allowed a limited period in which to pirk on the righthand side for the purpose of loading or unloading. On the motion of Cr. J. Hodgens. ALP., it was decided to take into consideration the possibility of removing the restrictions as from 6.30 p.m. caeli day. The recommendation. with this amendment, was adopted.