ALBERT STREET EXTENSION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26214, 26 July 1946, Page 3

ALBERT STREET EXTENSION

Sir,—Your correspondent ”2 N.Z.E.F Sapper” in Saturday’s issue suggests that the Albert street extension should terminate at Littlebourne crescent, pending a tunnel being driven from there to the Kaikorai Valley. This is quite a good proposal, which has been urged previously, but in my opinion it would be wise to abandon the tramline route altogether in favour of an adjoining and parallel route which would have the great advantage of being less affected .by frost. Apart from other considerations, there can be • no justification for squandering money on an entirely new road when a good road nearby already covers part of the route. The upper portion of Littlebourne road could be realigned and continued over the Littlebourne House property to link up with Albert street. The absurdity of proceeding with the present scheme will be better appreciated when it is realised that a desirablp modification, which is certain to be demanded within the near future, could not be implemented without involving the complete demolition of the road as now planned. Obviously the logical and ultimate objective is a road at the easiest possible gradient, which would provide the most direct access to the Kaikorai Valley, and this objective could be attained only by driving a road:tunnel under the Highgate ridge. This would involve 'the abandonment of portion' of the road, including the costly Highgate bridge, and the regrading and reconstruction of the balance at heavy cost. As the council is not at present prepared to drive the tunnel, the highway should terminate at Tweed street in the meantime. The new route suggested would entail ttys resumption of part of some property frontages in Littlebourne road and the demolition of one or at most' two houses One outcome would be that eight or nine houses now marked out for demolition would be retained Intact, as would also be Littlebourne House.—l am, etc., Vigilant Ratepayer. July 23.