In the news: My 12 February article explained the timeline and consultation processes relating to the Council’s work to manage traffic downstream of the Christchurch Northern Corridor (CNC). This has formed the basis for an article in the current issue of the St Albans News. See below for the article, or head to stalbans.gen.nz for the full digital edition.
Today’s Nor’West News includes a column I’ve written reflecting on traffic and safety issues in the Langdons Road area, which is soon to be impacted by the opening of the Kmart in the Northlink development. As I say in the column, all members of the public are welcome to raise issues with the Community Board, and we start every meeting with a public forum if you wish to come speak to us – contact details can be found on the Council website.
Waipapa/Papanui-Innes Community Board deputy chair Simon Britten writes about the concerns raised over the new Northlink shopping complex.
Kmart’s new Papanui store in Langdons Road will open next month. Development at the site is bringing new shops to Papanui, but also safety concerns. Continue reading “Simon’s 3 March column in the Nor’West News”
Update: I’ve been closely following the issues around the Christchurch Northern Corridor (CNC) for some time now. The motorway is due to open ‘mid 2020’, and work is getting underway in the St Albans, Edgeware, and Mairehau areas to to manage the expected downstream increase in traffic. This article recaps the Christchurch City Council’s consultation and decision-making processes over the past two years.
The Downstream Effects Management Plan (DEMP) was commissioned by the Christchurch City Council Continue reading “Work is starting downstream of the CNC – how were the designs decided?”
Analysis: In late 2017 the Christchurch City Council consulted the public on a proposal for roading changes in the Papanui area, with the objective of improving public transport reliability and travel times along Main North Road. This article gives an overview of the changes being made, the anticipated benefits, and the status of the project at the time of writing.
I curate the Think Papanui community engagement initiative, and have reported on the progress of the bus priority project for several years now, observing a high level of public interest through that time. Continue reading “The Main North Road bus priority project in Papanui: an overview”
Recap: The Christchurch City Council gave in-principle approval for traffic lights at a Harewood Road intersection on Thursday. Earlier in 2019 Council staff consulted on safety improvements for the Harewood/Gardiners/Breens intersection, seeking feedback on two options. The response from the community was clear, with 77% of 1,085 submissions preferring traffic lights to either the alternative left-in/left-out proposal, or the status quo. The community’s feedback and this week’s Council’s decision prioritises connectivity for the community, with an independent safety assessment finding lights to be less safe than both the alternative option and also the current configuration.
As a resident in the wider area, I travel through this intersection on at least a weekly basis, and I also have a strong interest in both urban design and community engagement. I’ve been following the debate around this intersection since Cr Aaron Keown campaigned on a ‘this intersection needs lights’ platform in the 2016 local election. (My own submission to the Council was in favour of one-laning Harewood Road as an affordable initial step that would allow for lights later if still needed – at the time I wasn’t aware that the Council had in fact approved one-laning back in 2010, but that the decision had never been implemented.) Continue reading “Harewood/Gardiners/Breens traffic signals get the green light from Council”
Opinion: Less than 2 months out from the election, a Christchurch Community Board has disregarded expert advice on safety, instead recommending traffic signals for the intersection of Harewood, Gardiners, and Breens Roads. This decision appears to have popular support from local residents, but if implemented will increase the expected number of injury crashes at the intersection, increase the likelihood of serious injury outcomes, and there is a high probability of increased traffic volumes*.
*refer to the independent Safety Assessment included in the agenda for the Board’s meeting
On the 17th of August 2019 I made one of seven deputations to the Waimāero/Fendalton-Waimairi-Harewood Community Board’s meeting in relation to the Harewood/Gardiner/Breens Road intersection. Continue reading “Board rejects safety assessment, favours lights for Harewood Rd intersection”
Commentary: the plan to manage traffic downstream of the Christchurch Northern Corridor (CNC) included nine options to manage the motorway’s additional traffic south of Berwick Street through to Bealey Avenue. The Christchurch City Council requested staff to proceed with scoping the three highest-ranking options as part of the first stage of downstream works. One of those options has now been picked and is included in the current consultation on transport projects in the Cranford Street area.
I’ve been following the progress of the Christchurch Northern Corridor for a number of years, and have been covering the Downstream Effects Management Plan in some detail (see links below). It has been my view that the decision around traffic ‘south of Berwick’ was one of the most significant, but also one that hasn’t been clearly communicated. Continue reading “Council settles on solution for CNC traffic south of Berwick Street”
