Extra lane but fewer parks in council traffic proposal
The Christchurch City Council is considering adding an extra lane to three key roads in Edgeware in preparation for more traffic from the new Christchurch Northern Corridor (CNC) motorway.
The plan will come at the cost of on-street parking though, worrying small business owners and residents in the area.
The NZ Transport Agency is building a new section of motorway between Cranford St – from 850 metres north of Innes Rd – and State Highway 1 south of the Waimakariri bridge. The $240 million project, due for completion in mid-2020, will have Cranford St to Innes Rd widened to four lanes with a cycleway and median barrier added.
It is expected to increase traffic in the area by more than 30 per cent, so the council is proposing a on-street parking ban on Cranford St between Innes Rd and Berwick St during peak hours. It will apply to the southbound lane from 7am to 9am and the northbound lane from 4pm to 6pm.
Sections of Madras, Forfar and Barbadoes streets between Warrington St and Bealey Ave will be widened by one lane under the proposal, leading to the loss of some parking. Other roads around Cranford St will be narrowed in sections or given speed bumps to discourage short cuts through side streets.
Business owners and residents are concerned about the lack of detail in the proposal, and what it will mean for on-street parking.
Sushi Fresh shareholder Billy Li opened his business on Barbadoes St last week and said he might not have chosen the location if he knew the roading changes were coming.
Li said the proposal could affect customer parking, which would mean people would not stop at his shop.
Ambrose Heal Furniture owner-operator Peter Davey had thrown out the pamphlet outlining the changes when his neighbour told him he better take a look. He said to describe it as changes to Cranford St and the surrounding area was ‘‘misleading’’ as Cranford St was ‘‘miles’’ away. Davey said the other concern was there was ‘‘no information coming from talking to council about what they’re actually going to do’’.
It was not yet known how many car parks would be lost, how much the project would cost, or how long works would take.
Innes ward councillor Pauline Cotter said business owners in Edgeware had raised concerns that motorists would be diverted away from their shops. The intention was not to reduce existing traffic pumping through the area, but to ease the additional traffic expected from the motorway, she said. About $17m had been budgeted for the proposed changes.
Cotter acknowledged the detail in the plan was sparse, but said the council was often berated for narrowing down finer details in the early stages and limiting public feedback. ‘‘There’s time with this to take things slowly and make sure we get it right.’’
NZ Automobile Association Canterbury/West Coast chairman Roy Hughes said the AA supported the changes to improve traffic flow from North Canterbury into the city.
St Albans Residents Association chairwoman Renee Walker said parking had been raised as a concern for those in higher density areas, which would be put in the association’s feedback.
The public is able to provide feedback on the proposal until June 4.