THE MERSEY TUNNEL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21921, 3 October 1934, Page 14

THE MERSEY TUNNEL

AtJCKLANDEIt'S TRIP "THE NOISE IS TERRIFIC" CONTINUOUS TRAFFIC STREAM An interesting account of a trip through the recently-opened Mersey tunnel, which connects Birkenhead and Liverpool, under the Mersey River, is given by an Aucklander at present in England, Mr. H. J. Butcher, in a special message to the lIKHAT.n. "On a journey from Pendine Sands to Southport Sands, both of which are used for motor-car racing, I took a trip through the Mersey Tunnel." Sir. Butcher writes. "It was a wonderful experience, and was in sharp contrast to the last crossing I made by vehicular ferry from Birkenhead to Liverpool a few years ago. I have always remembered the amount of 'jockeying* that went on to crowd as many cars as possible on the ferry; if you lost a little paint in the operation ii; was supposed to be no one's fault. "The massive construction of the tunnel is a marvel, and quite a lot of alterations to the original plans had to be made owing to many unforeseen difficulties which arose. The length of the tunnel is two miles, but in driving through I't seems much shorter. The £8,000,000 that it cost seems to be a safe investment, for the amount of traffic is much bevond expectations. The spacious entrances are not unlike the Auckland railway station. I paid a toll of Is 6d, being by myself in a 9 li.p. car, which comes under the small car rate. "There are two lanes of traffic each way. Slow-moving traffic has to keep to the lane nearest the wall. I took the inside, or fast, lane, and I had not been going very long before I wished I had taken the other one. When once you are in a particular lane it is very dangerous to attempt to move into another, as there is a continuous stream of traffic all the time. As soon as the tunnel is entered you feel inclined to switch on the headlights of the car, as the lighting system in the tunnel gives an. impression of semi-darkness, but you are not allowed to do this. The lights, which are long globes about 12in. by 4in., are about two-thirds of the way up the walls and .about 50ft. apart. "The tunnel is not straight or level, there being a perceptible "dip a|jout halfway through. The noise is terrific, chiefly owing to the large amount of heavy traffic and the fact that the roadway is laid with iron sets, which naturally create more noise than if the roadway was smooth. The walls and roof are of white brick. The ventilation system is perfect, the air being as fresh as on the open road. "There are a number of boxes at which to pay the toll before entering, and a breakdown lorry is kept jn case trouble should happen to a vehicle and cause disorganisation to the traffic. On leaving the tunnel I" had to show my ticket. I noticed that very few vehicles stopped, the attendant telling me that most of the users were people of Birkenhead or Liverpool, and had season tickets, which were displayed on the side of their vehicles."