Council proposes to add traffic lane to Barbadoes, Madras streets at cost of parks and make Cranford St a clearway
Business owners are concerned about a proposal to add another lane to Christchurch's Barbadoes St, meaning the loss of some on-street parking.
The Christchurch City Council is considering adding an extra lane to three key roads in Edgeware in preparation for more traffic from the new Christchurch Northern Corridor (CNC) motorway.
The plan will come at the cost of on-street parking though, worrying small business owners and residents in the area.
The NZ Transport Agency is building a new section of motorway between Cranford St – from 850 metres north of Innes Rd – and State Highway 1 south of the Waimakariri bridge. The $240 million project, due for completion in mid-2020, will have Cranford St to Innes Rd widened to four lanes with a cycleway and median barrier added.
Sushi Fresh shareholder Billy Li says he was worried how any loss of parks would affect his business.
It is expected to increase traffic in the area by more than 30 per cent, so the council is proposing a on-street parking ban on Cranford St between Innes Rd and Berwick St during peak hours. It will apply to the southbound lane from 7am to 9am and the northbound lane from 4pm to 6pm.
Will you be affected? How do you feel? Email michael.hayward@stuff.co.nz
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Sections of Madras, Forfar and Barbadoes streets between Warrington St and Bealey Ave will be widened by one lane under the proposal, leading to the loss of some parking. Other roads around Cranford St will be narrowed in sections or given speed bumps to discourage short cuts through side streets.
Business owners and residents are concerned about the lack of detail in the proposal, and what it will mean for on-street parking. Sushi Fresh shareholder Billy Li opened his business on Barbadoes St last week and said he might not have chosen the location if he knew the roading changes were coming.
Li said the proposal could affect customer parking, which would mean people would not stop at his shop.
Ambrose Heal Furniture owner-operator Peter Davey says he is concerned there is no detail about what would be done if the changes go ahead.
Ambrose Heal Furniture owner-operator Peter Davey had thrown out the pamphlet outlining the changes when his neighbour told him he better take a look. He said to describe it as changes to Cranford St and the surrounding area was "misleading" as Cranford St was "miles" away.
Davey said the other concern was there was "no information coming from talking to council about what they're actually going to do".
It was not yet known how many car parks would be lost, how much the project would cost, or how long any works would take.
Take an animated flyover of the Christchurch Northern Corridor motorway project.
Innes ward councillor Pauline Cotter said business owners in Edgeware had raised concerns that motorists would be diverted away from their shops. The intention was not to reduce existing traffic pumping through the area, but to ease the additional traffic expected from the motorway, she said. About $17m had been budgeted for the proposed changes.
Cotter acknowledged the detail in the proposal was sparse, but said the council was often berated for narrowing down finer details in the early stages and limiting public feedback.
"There's time with this to take things slowly and make sure we get it right."
Business owners and residents are concerned about a proposal to add another lane to Barbadoes St, to prepare for an increase in traffic from the Christchurch Northern Corridor.
NZ Automobile Association Canterbury/West Coast chairman Roy Hughes said the AA supported the changes to improve traffic flow from North Canterbury into the city.
He was concerned about plans to slow traffic on side streets though as it restricted access for residents and emergency services.
St Albans Residents Association chairwoman Renee Walker said parking had been raised as a concern for those in higher density areas, which would be included in the association's feedback.
Barbadoes St (pictured top to bottom) will have two lanes of traffic heading south and one lane north under the proposed changes.
Concerns had been raised about the lack of consultation before the plan's release, especially by those affected by the proposed loss of parking, increased traffic or compromised safety, Walker said.
The public is able to provide feedback on the proposal until June 4.
- Stuff
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