RICCARTON AVENUE TO BE WIDENED.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18830, 6 August 1929, Page 3

RICCARTON AVENUE TO BE WIDENED.

ESTIMATED COST OF NEW SCHEME IS £21,310.

The plan to make a roadway for the full width of Riccarton Avenue between the Hospital and Deans Avenue and to lay the footpaths inside Hagley Park was advanced a further stage at a meeting of the City Council last evening, when the scheme was approved. The total estimated cost, is £21,310. It was reported by the Works Committee that representatives of the committee recently conferred with representatives oi the Riccarton Borough Council and the Christchurch Domains Board in connection with the proposed improvement of Riccarton Avenue. A suggestion was made that the existing footpaths in Riccarton Avenue should be thrown into the roadway and new footpaths formed in the Domain, the whole of the roadway to be reconstructed of bituminous concrete. The proposition met with the approval oi all those present at the conference and the question was referred to the City Engineer for a report and estimate. This estimate has now been received by the committe, the proposal being to make provision in the roadway for the following:—

If grit paths only were constructed, the above cost could be reduced by the sum of £I6OO. The present basis of allocation of maintenance of Riccarton Avenue is 65 per cent for the city and 35 per cent for the Riccarton Borough. It was considered, however, that as Riccarton Avenue is a continuation of a main highway and carries the greatest proportion of the traffic entering the city from outside districts, a substantial subsidy_ should be made available by the Main Highways Board, and efforts in this direction have been initiated. Pending receipt of further advice on this question, however, the committee recommended that the scheme as submitted be approved and that the Riccarton Borough Council and the Christchurch Domains Board again be communicated with on the matter. Councillor D. G. Sullivan, M.P., said that the report was not to be interpreted into a form of approval that would call on the Finance Committee to find the money straight awav. The Mayor (the Rev J. K. Archer) : This is only information. Councillor Sullivan: That is so. The clause was adopted.

Tram track strip Two 20ft carriageways in conKerb and flat channels ... Two 12ft footways . 3 feet A total width of The estimated cost is as follows:— Shifting back Tramway Board’s poles Relaying post and tele graph ducts and lines.. £ s. d. 520 0 0 1,000 0 0 750 0 0 Pavement work and footways 19,040 0 0 £21,310 0 0