Transit New Zealand

One of the roads of national significance (RoNS) projects.  Main features are: 4 laning of Russley Road, new separated intersection with Memorial Ave (overbridge), closure of Wairakei Rd intersection.

There will be cycling "provision" along Russley Road (2.5m wide shoulder - no separate path), and through the Memorial Avenue intersection (no detail on this yet).  The intersection, although signalised looks a bit daunting for walkers and cyclists. 

With the proposed closure of the Wairakei Road intersection, there is an opportunity to push for a walking/ cycling underpass to give better access for these modes to the airport.

More details, and an outline plan can be found here:

http://www.nzta.govt.nz/projects/russley-road-four-laning/consultation.h...

Submissions closed on Friday 17 December.  Spokes submission is attached.

NZTA are investigating Options for a new four-lane arterial road from the existing Christchurch Northern Motorway and running east of Belfast (SH1) to connect with Queen Elizabeth II Drive (QEII Drive – SH74), as well as the widening of QEII Drive to four lanes between Main North Road and Innes Road.

NZTA states that "the proposal includes consideration of a parallel cycle/walkway connecting with Owen Mitchell Park in the south, running alongside the arterial and connecting with the old state highway bridge over the Waimakariri River in the north, via local roads."

Cycle paths along the proposed arterial could, with appropriate linkages, potentially provide a key cycling route to the north of the city.

Details and a basic plan of the project can be found at: http://www.nzta.govt.nz/consultation/christchurch-northern-corridor/inde...

There are issues with the linkages between the proposed cycle path and the Old Waimakariri Bridge, and the northern arterial and QEII Drive.  Otherwise the proposal generally looks OK from a cycling perspective.  Spokes has made a submission on these issues and several other matters.  The submission is attached below.

Submissions closed on 17 September 2010.

NZTA are investigating Options for a new four-lane arterial road from the existing Christchurch Northern Motorway and running east of Belfast (SH1) to connect with Queen Elizabeth II Drive (QEII Drive – SH74), as well as the widening of QEII Drive to four lanes between Main North Road and Innes Road.

NZTA states that "the proposal includes consideration of a parallel cycle/walkway connecting with Owen Mitchell Park in the south, running alongside the arterial and connecting with the old state highway bridge over the Waimakariri River in the north, via local roads."

Lets hope this is more than a proposal, as cycle paths along the proposed arterial could, with appropriate linkages, potentially provide a key cycling route to the north of the city.

Details and a basic plan of the project can be found at:
http://www.nzta.govt.nz/network/projects/christchurch-northern-corridor/docs/brochure.pdf 

Submissions closed on 19 March 2010.

The following submission was sent by email to NZTA on behalf of Spokes:

Thanks for the opportunity to make comments on this initial consultation over the proposed Northern Arterial and QE II Drive Four laning.

We note that the proposal includes "consideration of a parallel cycle/walkway connecting with Owen Mitchell Park in the south, running
alongside the arterial and connecting with the old state highway bridge over the Waimakariri River in the north, via local roads".

Spokes considers that a parallel cycleway with connections to an upgraded old state highway bridge should be an integral part of the proposed northern arterial corridor.  Inclusion of such a cycleway would provide a safe and convenient cycling route between Christchurch, Kaiapoi and points further north and be consistent with the New Zealand Transport Strategy, the Greater Christchurch Urban Development Strategy, the Greater Christchurch Travel Demand Strategy, and the CCC Belfast Area Plan (see attached map).  The cycleway would also be consistent with the State Highway Geometric Design Manual.

While we would support a linkage between the proposed cycleway and Owen Mitchell Park, we would be concerned if the cycleway ended at this point, as other than providing a linkage to Redwood, this would not provide connectivity with the existing cycle path down QE II Drive or the rest of the Christchurch cycling network.  As a result the northern arterial cycleway would be unlikely to be effectively utilised. To establish effective linkages to the Christchurch network the proposed cycleway should extend to and across QE II Drive (preferably via grade separation) and provision should be made for connecting cycleways to be incorporated within the proposed links to Cranford Street and Hills Road.

We consider that any cycleway should be adequately separated from the Northern Arterial carriageway for health and safety reasons, and to improve user experience.  The recently constructed Curletts Road cycle path (SH 73) provides a good model for such separation.  To enhance user experience, screen planting or other forms of screening should also be considered.  The creation of at least one cycling and pedestrian "rest area" well separated from the arterial carriageway could also be considered.

Linkages should be provided between the cycleway and all roads crossed by (or immediately adjacent to) the northern arterial.  Provision should be made for the proposed railway cycle path in the design of the northern arterial crossing of the main north railway, and for connections between the northern arterial cycleway and the railway path. Where existing local roads are blocked off due to the formation of the northern arterial, consideration should be given to constructing a cycling and pedestrian underpass.

We note that the Belfast Area Plan shows a possible cycleway along the northern arterial terminating at the junction of the arterial and the existing motorway, and the railway path terminating at the junction of the railway and the arterial.  While we would support the cycleway continuing to Main North Road, there would appear to be little purpose in continuing past this point unless it is proposed to provide for cycleways parallel to the existing motorway and bridge.  The best solution for a cycling linkage on to the old state highway bridge over the Waimakariri river may be for both the cycleway and the railway path to follow the railway from its intersection with the northern arterial to the bridge.

Thanks again for the opportunity to comment.  Don't hesitate to get in touch if you have any queries or require further information.

Yours sincerely

Robin Delamore
Cycling Improvements convenor - Spokes

NZTA are looking at three options to separate State Highway 1 and Memorial Ave at the Russley Rd intersection (by the Airport).  These options are: 1) Memorial Ave over Russley Rd (bridge), Memorial Road over Russley Rd (tunnel), and 3) Russley Rd over Memorial Ave (bridge).  A three options provide for improved cycle and pedestrian access to the Airport, although Option 1 is less advantageous as cyclists would have to climb to cross over the bridge.

A brochure illustrating the options can be found here:

http://www.nzta.govt.nz/network/projects/memorial-intersection/docs/broc...

A submission on behalf of Spokes was sent on Friday 26th of March 2010, as follows:

Hello

This is a submission from Spokes - the Canterbury Cycling Association. 

I was about to send these comments using the online web feedback form when it vanished from the screen - it must have been taken off just on 5pm!  Fortunately I had saved the comments to another document.

Our comments are as follows:

Do you have any current concerns with the Russley Road (SH1)/Memorial Avenue Intersection? If yes, please provide detail. 

Currently the intersection is a barrier to walking and cycling between the City and the airport, due to the design of the roundabout and traffic speeds in the area.  It should be noted that, as those visiting or leaving the airport people also travel to work at the airport by cycle or on foot. The intersection is also a barrier for cyclists using SH1.

What are the key issues you would like to be resolved at the intersection? 

1) Reduction or removal of barriers to cycling and walking to and from the airport area. 
2) Elimination of the danger and inconvenience currently experienced by cyclists and walkers trying to cross this intersection.

Three options to improve the intersection are being considered. What are your views on the options for the intersection? Would any of these options solve your current issues with the intersection? 

All of the options have the potential to reduce the barriers to cycling and walking to and from the airport.  However, there are likely to be issues with all options where walking and cycling paths cross on and off ramps between the two roads, and separated or controlled crossings of these would be required.  Both Option 1 and Option 2 involve longer underpasses beneath one of other of the main roads, which would be less attractive for cyclists and walkers in the case of Option 1 and cyclists in the case of Option 2.  There may also be air quality issues associated with these underpasses. Option 3 would therefore be preferred as long as there is a good level of separation between a shared (or separated) walking and cycling path and the main carriageway, and all crossings of on and off ramps are separated or light controlled.

Please indicate if you would like to be contacted regarding further project development.

Spokes would like to be consulted as part of further project development.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely

Robin Delamore
Cycling Improvements convenor - Spokes

NZTA are consulting on options for upgrading/ improving the Memorial Ave/ Russley Road intersection (on the way to the Airport).  Not much account appears to have been taken of the needs of cyclists and walkers.

Details are on their website at:

http://www.nzta.govt.nz/consultation/russley-memorial/

Spokes' submission on options for this intersection is attached below.