5 Dec 2024

Share this story

Christchurch City Council approved plans for two key transport projects - Cranford Street and Church Corner.

Cranford Street peak-hour lane  

Peak-hour bus lanes will remain on Cranford Street. 

Councillors have approved keeping the peak-hour bus lanes on Cranford Street, following a recommendation from the Waipapa Papanui-Innes-Central Community Board.  

The trialled peak-hour bus lanes will be upgraded early next year into a permanent layout.  

On the city-bound side, the lane will run between Innes Road and Berwick Avenue, while the northbound lane will run between Westminster Street and Innes Road. Outside of peak times, the lanes will revert to on-street parking.  

The work will be funded by the Council through the Downstream Effects Mitigation Plan (DEMP) and is estimated to cost $250,000.  

Last month the Community Board considered three options for the peak hour lanes – a bus lane, clearway or high-occupancy-vehicle T2 lane.  

The Board voted in favour of the bus lane and also requested that staff investigate pedestrian safety measures at the intersections of Westminster Street/Cranford Street and Berwick Street/Cranford Street and report back to the Board. 

Upgrades have been approved for Church Corner.

Church Corner safety upgrade 

The Main South, Yaldhurst and Riccarton Road intersection will get traffic lights.

Christchurch City Council approved upgrades to improve safety at the Church Corner intersection at its meeting today after being delegated the decision by the Waipuna Halswell-Hornby-Riccarton Community. 

The approved plan includes signalising the intersection to retain the left and right hand turns from Main South Road, to help reduce the risk of a crash for people turning right. 

There will also be cycle lanes, a signalised pedestrian crossing operating only when someone pushes the button to cross, a short section of bus lane on Riccarton Road and speed humps on all approaches to the intersection.

The intersection is in the top 3% in Christchurch where there is a risk of having a crash so the upgrades will reduce the risk through the area, as well as allowing pedestrians and cyclists to safely cross.  

There have been 76 crashes in 10 years involving people turning right from Main South Road to Riccarton Road, including three serious injuries and seven minor injuries.