West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954), Tuesday 1 January 1935, page 5


TRAFFIC ON GUILDFORD ROADS

Census Causes Surprise.

A further move in the activities of a number of local governing bodies to secure the improvement of the old Guildford road and its gazettal as.the Great East

ern-highway, was taken -recently when the Bassendean Road Board made a cen sus of traffic using both the old road and the highway on the south side of the river. The census was taken daily for a week between the hours of 6 a.m. and 10 p.m., and the results surprised .the autho rities. In the period 1,607 more vehicles used the old road than passed over the southern road, and traffic on the old Guildford-road represented 54.19 per cent of the total number of vehicles passing over both roads during the period. The local authorities concerned are seeking Government assistance in remov ing a detour at Bassendean by continuing the old Guildford-road alongside the rail way line instead of turning off through Bassendean, round the oval and over the existing. road bridge. Land for the pur pose has already been resumed, and a Government grant has been made to wards the cost of reconstruction of the bridge over the river on the present site. It is contended that, the old road is shorter than the Belmont-road by about two miles and avoids two crossings of the river. The road is the natural entrance to the city, and avoids crossing the Cause way. The matter will be taken up with the Government in due course, and as sistance will be sought in bringing about the, straightening and shortening of the road by the proposed work at Bassendean.