BRIDGE COMMISSION

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 835, 2 December 1929, Page 11

BRIDGE COMMISSION

(Continued from Page 1.) in increase in motor-traffic amount- , j jo 45 per cent, in three years over 'he Second Narrows Bridge at Vanrourer, British Columbia, was also •noted to snow that motor traffic fed and grew upon itself, and that traffic fr ea:ed further traffic. The development of main highway traffic to the ->;orth by the most direct route, via Auckland Harbour, was also urged as ' ve-y substantial reason for a bridge. Dealing with the payment for the bridge, counsel referred to a report presented by a commission to the American Senate calling for the abolition of private toll bridges as excessive profits were being obtained. It it-as found in America that toll bridges veT ( far too profitable to be allowed to remain in private hands. The association believed that the bridge would be a profitable and sound economic success. Private capital was already available for the bridge, but the association certainly did not want private enterprise to come into it. SITES DISCUSSED

Speaking of the various sites. Mr. jinlay said the association would be prepared to accept the Beaumont Strest- Shoal Bky site, the Beaumont Street - Northcote Point site, or the Curran Street (Point Krin) - Northcote site, but it certamly did not want the Sentinel Road - Birkenhead site. For the Shoal Bay proposal, the engineers had provided for a span of :!70 feet, with head room of 87 feet. K this did not commend itself to the commission, the association would put forward the Beaumont StreetNorthcote Point site, which gave So feet of head room, at an approximate cost of £718.000, excluding causeways. The Shoal Bay proposal was estimated to cost approximately A'SOO.OOO. Including causeways. TOLL V. WATER TRANSPORT

Continuing after the luncheon adjournment, Mr. Finlay gave instances of increased costs on goods to househuldeis on North Shore arising out of transporation across the harbour by the present method. With a bridge and an equitable system of tolls the association was convinced that considerable reduction in the cost of living to Nortfi Shore residents would result. Mr. Finlay said that by charging Sd for motor-cars. 5s for lorries and Id for passengers :i,OOO vehicles a day would pay interest at the rate of S per cent on a capital cost of £780,000. It might be wise not to charge a passenger toll, but in that rase the vehicular toll w ould 'have to be increased. He considered that those toll charges would safely provide for a bridge costing up to a million pounds.