Construction work will begin along Papanui Road on 17 August, with the opening of bus priority measures on Papanui Road on September 11.
The route runs from the intersection of Papanui Road with Bealey Avenue to the intersection of Papanui Road with Harewood Road, and then along Main North Road as far as the Christchurch Northern Motorway.
The work will be done in seven stages with work taking two to three weeks for each stage. All work is expected to be completed by mid December.
The sections are:
- Bealey Ave to Innes Road
- Innes Road to Blighs Road
- Blighs Road to Langdons Road
- Langdons Road to QEII Drive
- QEII Drive to Styx Mill Road
- Styx Mill Road to Johns Road
- Johns Road to Motorway.
Types of measures that will be implemented for bus priority along this section include:
- a combined bus and cycle lane, signs and road markings
- signalised pedestrian crossings (near Holly Road and Belfast School)
- improved cycle and pedestrian facilities
- improved bus stops and bus shelter facilities
- changes to parking arrangements.
The Papanui Rd/Main North Rd route is one of 10 routes identified by the Citywide Public Transport Priority Plan and the Metro Strategy 2006-2012 as needing measures to help buses break through traffic congestion and make public transport faster and more reliable.
A bus lane allows buses to bypass the traffic congestion on main routes during peak times. Lanes can be long continuous lengths or short sections on the approach to intersections. The lanes are clearly marked with signs displaying operational times. Outside operational times, the bus lanes revert to on-street parking spaces with space for cyclists alongside, where indicated.
Bus lanes can be either full-time or part-time. Full-time bus lanes operate 24 hours per day. Part-time bus lanes will initially operate between 7am and 9am on inbound routes to the city and 3pm – 6pm on outbound routes from the city. The exception is outside schools where bus lanes will operate between 4pm - 6pm on outbound routes where indicated.
Buses, cycles, motorcycles, motor scooters, mopeds and emergency services vehicles including enforcement officers will be able to travel in the lanes. Taxis can only use existing bus lanes in Cathedral Square and along parts of Colombo Street.
The bus lanes will be enforced by the Christchurch City Council’s enforcement officers or by the New Zealand Police. Motorists caught travelling in a bus lanes during operational times will be issued with an infringement notice and a fine of $150.
Motorists can travel in a bus lane if they need to turn into a side street or driveway. However, turning manoeuvres must be kept to a minimum distance. The bus lanes need to be unobstructed to allow the buses to operate reliably. If a Council enforcement officer finds a vehicle parked in a bus lane during operational times the motorist will be issued with a parking fine of $60 and the vehicle will be towed away, potentially incurring a tow fee. Motorists will then need to contact the Christchurch City Council or the New Zealand Police to locate their vehicle.
For more information visit the website: http://www.ccc.govt.nz/buspriority.
