AUCKLAND HARBOUR BRIDGE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23026, 2 May 1938, Page 12

AUCKLAND HARBOUR BRIDGE

Sir —ln view of the fact that np-to-date figures dealing with trans-har-bour traffic are now available it is possible accurately to forecast the revenue to be derived from the proposed harbour bridge. In 1929 the total number of vehicles carried on the ferries was 284,690 and the Harbour Board dues amounted to £4099 19s sd. latter had increased to £6416 12s 7d for the vear ending 30 September, 1937 and for the half-year up to March 31, 1938, there was an increase of £620 over last year's figures. This year's figures to September 30, 1938, can be reasonably fixod at £7656 12s 7d. This would represent a total yearly traffic of 534,423 vehicles carried at the present time, or an increase of 86 per cent in 10 years. If the 11 year period is taken the increase is 105 per cent. In 1930 the Royal Commission assumed that it would take 30 years for the traffic to double, whereas it has nearly doubled in 10 years. In 1930 it was also assumed that the- bridge would carry approximately four times the traffic handled by the ferries (which is a conservative estimate'). This would mean a total of 2,137.692 vehicles yearly, exclusive of buses. On this basis the revenue is as follows: 427,538 lorries at average of Is 6d per trip, £32.064; 1,701,156 cars at average of 9d per trip, £64,130; 365.000 buses at average of 2s per trip, £36.500; total annual revenue, £132,694. Expenditure: Interest at 3J per cent on cost of bridge £2,000,000, £70,000; sinking fund li per cent (high), £3O, <300; maintenance and cost of operations (high). £20,000; total expenditure, £120,000. This shows a surplus of £12,694 on the first yenr of operation and an annual increase of at. least 10 per cent could bo anticipated. An important factor not taken into consideration in compiling the above figures is that a very considerable amount of traffic now goes right round the harbour, as motorists are averse to being caught in the queues so often ocouring. Further, it would be four or five years before the bridge would be completed, when the traffic would have increased at least 50 per cent.. The actual increase for the last four years is 1935, 11 per cent; 1936, 16 per cent; 1937, 18 per cent: 1938, 19 per cent. The number of buses daily meeting the boats as shown by a tally in 1934 was 1027. The above figures prove that the bridge is now considerably overdue and the citizens ot Auckland should unite and demand its immediate erection and so close the gap in the highway system. R. H. Grevii.le, i.l.m. Waitemata Harbour Bridge Association.