Eastgate Shopping Centre changes will benefit area

Changes at the Eastgate Shopping Centre will bring big benefits for the area.
The Christchurch City Council’s area development officer, based at the Linwood Service Centre, Tony Murray, says the changes at the mall will bring increased retail spending and more jobs.
When The Warehouse opens its new store at the mall it will be the company’s biggest in New Zealand.

The development includes a greatly increased car parking area and the stopping of one road.
The area manager of The Warehouse, Chris Clyma, says the new building will be 9300 sq m and it is hoped that the store will be opened at the end of October.
He says the staff will be increased by about 50 to 60 part-time and full-time workers.

Tony Murray expects traffic flows to be improved around the new complex.
Recently approval was given for more than 100 car parks to be created behind Linwood Library, bringing the total number of new car parks around the Eastgate complex to more than 1000.
Cranley Street will be stopped outside the library and traffic will then move into the car park and use an exit in Chelsea Street.

The No. 23 Bromley bus will use the same route, except for the deviation in the car park. "It will be unusual for a bus to travel across a car park," Tony says.

He hopes that present congestion at the Linwood Avenue- Cranley Street intersection will be improved with the changes. The Linwood Avenue traffic layout will not be changed.

The project is a big retail development for the eastside of the city.
Another was the opening of the Woolworths supermarket in Ferry Road recently.
"Both developments will give a boost to this part of the city," he says.