Better streets & spaces  |  3 Oct 2022

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Safety concerns raised by Hornby High School students have led to the Waipuna Halswell-Hornby-Riccarton Community Board agreeing to make changes on busy Waterloo Road.

The changes will make it easier and safer for pedestrians and cyclists to get across Waterloo Road and include:

  • The addition of two new pedestrian refuge islands on Waterloo Road; one in front of Hornby High School’s student entrance and another near the entrance to Hornby Primary School.
  • The construction of wider paths that will better cater for groups travelling to and from the schools and to and from the new Matatiki: Hornby Centre.
  • Construction of new kerb buildouts on Smarts Road, at the Waterloo Road intersection, to slow trucks entering the area.
  • New parking restrictions outside the two schools to make it safer drop-off and pick-up times.

“When we consulted the public earlier this year about making changes to Waterloo Road, 91 per cent of submitters were supportive of our plans. There was general agreement that the current layout on Waterloo Road did not provide a safe environment for students biking, scootering or walking to school,’’ says Christchurch City Council Transport Operations Manager Stephen Wright.

“We have made a couple of changes to our plans based on the feedback we got from the community. Once implemented, the changes should greatly improve the safety of Waterloo Road for the local community and the students attending the schools in the area,’’ Mr Wright says.

“It will also make it safer and easier for people to access the new Matatiki: Hornby Centre which is due to open next year.’’

The Council plans to start making the changes on Waterloo Road in early 2023.