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23 October 2001 |
Proposed Northern Roading Strategy Out For Consultation
A comprehensive strategy proposed for improving the road network of northern Christchurch has been released today for public consultation.
The Northern Roading
Options Scoping Study (NROSS) is being undertaken by traffic consultants Traffic
Design Group on behalf of Transit New Zealand and the Christchurch City Council,
along with Environment Canterbury, the Waimakariri District Council and the Hurunui
District Council.
Transit regional manager Robin Odams says the preferred strategy - identified
through testing and refining six initial strategies - contains a number of individual
projects which can be constructed over a period of time to provide incremental
improvements to the road network in northern Christchurch. Key improvements identified during the extensive assessment include upgrading
Main North Road, the Chaneys/Marshland Road link, Cranford Street and Hills
Road; construction of the rural Northern Arterial from Chaneys through to QEII
Drive (as confirmed in the City Plan) and creation of a bypass west of Belfast
from the Northern Motorway to Johns Road. A number of smaller, complementary works mainly south of QE II Drive are also
included in the preferred strategy. These include intersection upgrades, new
road links and new traffic signals at a number of intersections. "The preferred strategy has been outlined in a 16 page booklet, Towards a solution
for northern Christchurch roading problems, which is now available," he says.
"The booklet describes the preferred strategy in detail, and explains how each
component would contribute to overall improvement to the road network. "We are now beginning the public consultation phase, which involves meeting
with a number of interest groups and affected parties, four public open days,
and receiving submissions. A response form is included in the consultation booklet. "Transit New Zealand and Christchurch City Council have yet to formally consider
the strategy. "The NROSS study team is looking to fully canvass public opinion on the preferred
strategy, which will then be a key input into the final report." Christchurch City Council Transport Policy Leader Stuart Woods, also a member
of the NROSS study team says that the issues to be addressed by the proposals
to ease roading pressure in the north of the city are significant, and will
require considerable expenditure over coming years. "The right solution needs
to be identified and supported by the public and the funding authorities." He says the open days will provide members of the public with an opportunity
to discuss the preferred strategy with study team members. "It is important
that we gather comprehensive feedback from the community, interest groups and
road users." Stuart Woods says the public should note that the preferred strategy takes
a long-term view. As yet, no decisions have been made about individual projects,
timing or priority. These issues will be further investigated in more detail
once the final reported is adopted by Transit and Christchurch City Council. Towards a solution for northern Christchurch roading problems is available
from Christchurch City Council - Civic Offices service centres and libraries,
and from Environment Canterbury, the Waimakariri District Council, the Hurunui
District Council and Transit New Zealand. It is also available as a PDF formatted
download from the Transit New Zealand website, www.transit.govt.nz. The four public open days, which will run from 4pm until 8pm at the following
locations: Members of the study team will be available for discussions For more information: Related information: