BIG TRAFFIC PROBLEM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20076, 13 October 1928, Page 13

BIG TRAFFIC PROBLEM.

EXPEDIENTS IN AMERICA. SOME COSTLY UNDERTAKINGS. [from our own correspondent.] •NEW YORK. Sept. 13 Thickly-populated communities are experiencing tho pains of that now 20th century disease, traffic congestion. This rmto-intoxication has involved complete revision of ideas as to what constitutes an adequate road or street. Tho rural street width of 18l't., onco ample for all needs, is giving away to pavements of 30 or 40ft., and in one instance two parallel strips of concrete have been laid, each 44ft. wide. This thoroughfare, between Detroit and Pontiac, is America's first super-highway. With motor vehicle registrations mounting rapidly—seven miles of new cars weekly in New York City alone —it has boeomo necessary to redesign tho old streets, built for horse traffic. Many cities are widening streets, building pedestrian tunnels and constructing overpasses, in the hope of making movement safer for pedestrians as well as autoists. Other cities are shearing off their sidewalks, giving more street room. Pittsburgh took 20ft.. off its main sidewalk and now thero is room for two more lanes of moving anfos. j A notable new project is a super-high-way leading away from the Holland vehicular tunnel under the Hudson River. This 15-mile express highway will not be stopped by a single street or railway crossing. It will bo double-decked through Jersey City, Newark and ElizaKnth. It is expected to carry 20,000,000 automobiles a year. As tho highway will traverse a now right-of-way for tho most part, construction cost will be £1.000,000 a mile. This high cost will be compensated for by the avoidance of traffic jams and the directness of the route. Evon rnoro fantastic, yet highly practical, is tho elevated road to bo constructed in New \ ork City. Sixty-six feet wide, at a height of 20ft., it is intended for fast traffic. The hourly capacity will be 5000 cars. Chicago, two years ago. built a double-decked street at a cost of £4.500,000. It has increased property values by £13,000,000. St. Louis is spending £4,000,000 on a similar project, which will includo a parking plaza for 6000 cars. Tho parking rental will pay for'the structure in a few year#.