THE HARBOUR BRIDGE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19858, 31 January 1928, Page 12

THE HARBOUR BRIDGE.

.Sir,—The promoters of the bridge stunt are infinitely obliged to "Shoreite" for the strongest argument yet adduced in favour of the scheme. He points out that an immense sum will in the near future be required for street improvements, drainage, water schemes, etc. etc.—some J2P0,000 in all. Does he not see that these more or Jess 'argent works will be too la>rge a burden for a population of stoma 23,000, but would fall lightly on thricu the number, which would surely oventuate were the bridge constructed? This morning two separate parties of friends owning cars have rung me op apologising for not visiting Milford on this holiday because of tho congestion at the traffic ferries, which will, be certainly experienced as in the past, owing to the North Shore races. Does not this show the necessity for a bridge ? A. P. HoPKrufi. ' Sir, —Messrs, Jones and Adams are to be congratulated on their frank statement, "that no responsible civil engineer could make a definite statement as to the cost of the harbour bridge." The main points ■of similarity between the Vancouver and the Waitemata bridges are that both cross water and both carry traffic; on most other points there ns no similarity. Sydney shows more similarity, yet the 1650 ft. span there is costing aboyt seven millions sidling. The main point, however, that is not stressed by Messrs, Jones and Adams is that the bridge tolls are in addition to increased cost of transport. By trying to concentrate the North Shore traffic atone point instead of distributing it to> four poits as now, people in Birkenhead and Devonport would have to be transported from seven to 10 miles more per bus return trip, and this will mean increased cost; at the ruling rates for transport in Auckland it will mean that, per single fare, the people would have to pay about 9d per trip, pins tho bridge tolls on vehicle and passenger, which at the Vancouver scale would be from 3£d to 7£d per vehicle and lgd to 2£d per passenger, making the minimum trip cost at least 10|d and most probably ll£d. A bua making 25 return trips daily would have: to pay, at the proposed Is levy, 25s per day, or roughly a penny per bns mile, which would mean a heavy levy, apart, from any direct rate. Any bridge scheme; must mean higher transport charges and extra burdens on the Shore, in additionto many heavy burdens for roads to meet, the bridge terminal that will absorb a. three-farthing rate on the unimproved values in the four borough's. Shobeite.