RELIEF OF TRAFFIC.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20152, 12 January 1929, Page 12

RELIEF OF TRAFFIC.

GRAFTON BRIDGE SCHEME.

CENTRE FOOTWAY SUGGESTED. VEHICLES ON BOTH SIDES. Suggestions for the relief of traffic on Grafton Bridge have been forwarded to the Auckland City Council by Mr. F. C. Jacobs, engineer to the Auckland Hospital Board., The scheme proposes the replacement of the two footpaths by a single central footpath with carriageways on each side for one-way traffic. No addition to the width of the bridge is proposed, Mr. Jacobs claiming that the alteration has advantages on the grounds of both economy and simplicity over the schemes for elevated or suspended pathways. The carriageway on Grafton Bridge is 24ft. wide, and there are two 6ft. paths. Mr. Jacobs contends that this total width of 36ft. would be more effectively utilised by laying a central path 6ft. wido and leaving a 15ft. road up to the parapets on either side. Access to the footpath at either end of the bridge would be obtained by subways with ramps. It is claimed that the provision of the subways would speed up vehicular traffic at the intersections and remove the menace to pedestrians. In outlining his reasons for the single pathway, Mr. Jacobs says: ' the pathways are each 6ft. in width, it should be noted that tho outside 9in. is rarely used. Pedestrians keep as far as possible from the keebway as the remorseless motors think nothing of shaving the proletariat as they rush past. lhe combined width of 12ft. is, therefore, not an effective 12ft. A centre pathway of 6ft. could be suitably railed for protection. The 15-foot roadways would allow a double line of one-way traffic, with prop-erly-conducted drivers. The total weight of the concrete footpaths is 338 tons. Ihe weight of a single path would be 169 tons, and by halving the thickness of the path an additional saving would be effected."