LEVEL CROSSING BRIDGES

Southland Times, Issue 22969, 15 August 1936, Page 19

LEVEL CROSSING BRIDGES

ELECTRIC GATES ARE CHEAPER One cannot help thinking that the building of overhead crossing bridges is a grave and expensive mistake when a far cheaper and just as effective method is available by the use of electric gates or electric drop-bars (writes a contributor to The Star-Sun).

This system is almost universally used in America, England and Germany. The only difference is the fact that overhead bridges do not cause traffic to wait when a train is passing. It must be obvious that the greater percentage of crossing smashes occurs on side-roads and not on main roads. For this reason alone, then, safety measures must be employed at all crossings, in order to reduce the now tremendous death roll. By no stretch of the imagination—or of the finances—can the Government be expected to construct overhead bridges at all crossings, and yet the price of one bridge would probably cover anything up to twenty gates or drop-arms. As pointed out. the wide use of these level crossing devices is sufficient recommendation in itself, and it seems strange that the Minister has not decided on their installation in preference to the more expensive bridges. The system in vogue in America is of the drop-arm type, a big girder swinging down to cut off the whole of the road, so that it is not possible for any vehicle to pass. The present installations used for actuating signals and warning lights could be used. The gate system is more popular in England.

The number of trains does not really justify the construction of overhead bridges at most crossings, and this is another reason in favour of the other systems. Even where there are cross-ing-keepers such as at Fendalton Road or Riccarton Road, a drop-arm girder would be cheaper and more effective.

One fault that is present in the warning light signal would have to be eradicated, however, and that refers to the time the light is working before the train passes. It is common knowledge that many people cross over when the light is in action, because the train is so far away. In the case of gates or drop-arm girders a happy medium would have to be struck so as not to keep the motorist waiting.