We’re seeking your views on plans for improved cycling facilities as part of the South Express Major Cycle Route – Puari ki Niho-toto.
The Infrastructure, Transport and Environment Committee will be considering a staff report at their meeting on Monday 22 July 2019.
This report can be viewed online(external link) from Wednesday 17 July 2019.
At the close of consultation we received 642 submissions. We also undertook some additional targeted consultation on five small areas of the route. Feedback from all consultations is below.
Consultation report [PDF, 948 KB]
Design changes following consultation [PDF, 892 KB]
South Express MCR submissions(external link)
South Express MCR attachments(external link)
Elizabeth Street submissions [PDF, 491 KB]
Elizabeth Street attachments(external link)
Lochee Road submissions [PDF, 335 KB]
Lochee Road attachments(external link)
Craven Street submissions [PDF, 301 KB]
Taggart Place submissions [PDF, 323 KB]
Bus stop submissions [PDF, 290 KB]
South Express cycleway will connect the edge of the city’s western boundary in Templeton to the central city. The route will travel through the suburbs of Hornby, Hei Hei and Sockburn to Upper Riccarton and Riccarton, finishing with a link to the Northern Line Major Cycle Route and the shared paths in South Hagley Park.
Map of the proposed route [JPG, 1 MB]
In developing the South Express cycleway, we have developed a route that aims to balance safety, directness, access to destinations and impacts to stakeholders. We have looked at a number of different routes and types of cycleways. The route shown in this booklet is our preferred route and is considered to be the best option for providing a safe and comfortable link between Templeton and the city. The route provides excellent connections to several local schools in the area and aims to minimise impacts through major commercial and industrial areas.
There are a number of factors that determine the best route for a cycleway. To ensure that all of these factors are considered, we have developed a process to help identify a preferred option. This process is designed to provide a balance between the needs of people wanting to cycle and the impacts of a cycleway on businesses, residents and the road network. For the South Express cycleway, a number of route options were initially identified and assessed.
Safety first
For the cycleways to be effective and feel safe, the Major Cycle Routes must be built in a certain way. This means separating people on bikes from motor vehicles in some areas, and slowing vehicles and reducing volumes in others.
Generally, the preferred location for Major Cycle Routes is on quieter streets with fewer trucks. However, this can be difficult to achieve where the route gets close to busy urban destinations and / or needs to link through commercial areas.
Traffic network considerations
Building safe cycle routes is one way to make the transport network more resilient. Where the proposed cycle route significantly changes the road, we must assess the likely impact on the rest of the transport network. In some cases plans for the route have been amended to avoid causing significant traffic delays and congestion elsewhere.
Business impacts
We recognise that existing parking is very important, particularly for local shops which rely on passing custom. Where possible, we have retained existing restricted parking zones and with some exceptions, have proposed alternative restricted on-street parking close by.
We aren’t making any changes to parking in the business park.
Residential impacts
We are aware of the need to balance different travel needs including parking, and we have carefully considered options to keep as much parking as possible.
However, when planning safe, direct cycleways using limited available space, there will be times when vehicle parking does not take priority.
What about tree removal?
In some areas we will need to remove trees to make room for the cycleway, and to improve safety by increasing visibility of the cycleway as people come out of their driveways or travel along the road. Trees to be removed will be replaced in suitable locations nearby.
Connecting with the central city and other Major Cycle Routes
South Express cycleway will have a direct connection with the Nor’West Arc in Riccarton and the Northern Line at the eastern end of the route. It continues through South Hagley Park to connect to the central city cycleways along Tuam and St Asaph streets.
The South Express route from Templeton to the Central City can be broken down into four sections:
Route options for each section have been assessed against the criteria detailed above, to determine the best route for each section, while keeping in mind how the sections fit together to form a continuous route.
Three options were identified within this section. The preferred route starts at Globe Bay Drive and heads east along Jones Road and Railway Terrace and crosses Kirk Road. It continues east along Waterloo Road, through the Waterloo Business Park to the intersection of Gilberthorpes Road.
This route passes through the busy commercial and industrial zone of Waterloo Business Park.
An alternative route utilising the rail corridor behind Waterloo Business Park, from Pound Road to the realigned Halswell Junction Road, was not viable due to existing and proposed railway sidings being unsafe for cyclists as determined by KiwiRail.
Another alternative connection through the Templeton Park subdivision required the removal of on-street car parking and provided less connectivity to the proposed future route from Rolleston.
The preferred route continues on Waterloo Road adjacent to Kyle Park before heading up Hei Hei Road to Buchanans Road. The route then travels along the north side of Buchanans Road, before running along the west side of Carmen Road to a crossing point at Masham Reserve to link with the transmission pylon corridor. The cycleway would then continue along the pylon corridor adjacent to the boundary of Riccarton Racecourse through to Racecourse Road.
This route provides a safe and attractive environment for cyclists along a combination of lower volume local roads and off-road paths. The route provides good connections to Hornby High, Hornby Primary and St Bernadettes schools. It will also provide a useful link from the Hei Hei residential area to The Hub Hornby via Kyle Park. The development of a shared path along the transmission corridor will also offer a recreational use that will pass by several small parks and reserves in the area.
We recognise that this route is not as direct as other on-road alternatives through this section, including the use of Waterloo or Main South Roads. However, these options require cyclists to ride through busy commercial and industrial zones where higher traffic volumes and more trucks result in an unsafe and uncomfortable environment. Safety must always be the top priority to encourage more people to cycle.
Six different route options were considered to continue the South Express onwards through Sockburn. The preferred route travels east along the transmission pylon corridor through Pararoa Stream Reserve. On reaching Epsom Road, the route continues south to Middlepark Road, travelling past St Thomas’ College to Craven Street, where it links to Main South Road. The cycleway proceeds for a short length along the north side of Main South Road, crossing at the existing mid-block signal crossing outside Riccarton High School, before continuing along the south side to Curletts Road.
Out of all options considered, this is the safest, most attractive and comfortable route. It generally avoids arterial roads, including the busy Sockburn roundabout, which is difficult to negotiate for even the most experienced cyclists.
The route minimises the length of biking required on the Main South Road and also provides an excellent connection to Riccarton High, St Thomas’, Riccarton Primary and Our Lady of Victories Schools.
Through this section, five different route options were considered to continue the South Express towards the central city. Two of these routes were discounted early; Riccarton Road along the northern extent (which has a bus priority focus) and a southern route utilising Lunns, Annex, Birmingham and Wrights Road (due to its close proximity to the Little River and Nor’West Arc Major Cycle Routes).
The preferred option is based on a local road route through the Riccarton residential area. Beginning at Curletts Road, this option travels a short section on Main South Road to a walkway linking to Ballantyne Avenue. The route then connects to Suva Street where it continues past Middleton Grange School and around Middleton Park to Lochee Road. At Wharenui Road, the cycleway travels via Peverel Street and Centennial Avenue before linking to Elizabeth Street through to Picton Avenue. A short section of travel is required on Picton Avenue before linking to the Old Blenheim Road alignment across Mandeville Street to the Northern Line MCR and South Hagley Park. There is a alternative option which utilised Peverel Street instead of Elizabeth Street but this was discounted due to of significantly higher traffic volumes and on-street parking demand in close proximity to Westfield Mall.
Peverel Street instead of Elizabeth Street but this was discounted in recognition of significantly higher traffic volumes and on-street parking demand in close proximity to Westfield Mall.Although less direct than some other options, the preferred route along quieter local roads is safe, attractive and comfortable. There are good connections to Middelton Grange and Wharenui School and a direct link into Riccarton High School. The route passes by the Wharenui Recreation Centre and is close to key Riccarton activity areas. There are also good connections to greenspace at Middleton and Harrington Parks.
Blenheim Road
While this route is direct, Blenheim Road is a busy major arterial with freight and public transport services making it less desirable for a Major Cycle Route. A cycleway with protected facilities would also impact on the efficiency at several busy intersections along Blenheim Road, increasing delay to traffic (in order to provide protected signal phasing for cyclists) on this key transport route.
Transmission Corridor
The pylon corridor offers a relatively direct off-road route, however discussions with Transpower identified that the corridor was not viable for a Major Cycle Route due to existing lease and sale negotioations with adjacent landowners. There were also personal safety and security concerns for cycleway users.
Key features of the proposed cycleway on this section of Jones Road:
Key features of the proposed cycleway on this section of Jones Road and Railway Terrace:
Key features of the proposed cycleway on this section of Railway Terrace, Kirk Road and Waterloo Road:
Key features of the proposed cycleway on this section of Waterloo Road:
Key features of the proposed cycleway on this section of Waterloo Road:
Key features of the proposed cycleway on this section of Waterloo Road:
Key features of the proposed cycleway on this section of Waterloo Road:
Key features of the proposed cycleway on this section of Waterloo Road:
Key features of the proposed cycleway on this section of Waterloo Road:
Key features of the proposed cycleway on this section of Waterloo Road:
Key features of the proposed cycleway on this section of Waterloo Road:
Key features of the proposed cycleway on this section of Waterloo Road:
Key features of the proposed cycleway on this section of Waterloo Road:
Key features of the proposed cycleway on this section of Waterloo Road:
Key features of the proposed cycleway on this section of Waterloo Road:
Artist impression: Waterloo Road
Key features of the proposed cycleway on this section of Waterloo Road:
Key features of the proposed cycleway on this section of Waterloo Road:
Key features of the proposed cycleway on this section of Waterloo Road and Hei Hei Road:
Key features of the proposed cycleway on this section of Hei Hei Road:
Artist impression: Hei Hei Road
Key features of the proposed cycleway on this section of Hei Hei Road:
Key features of the proposed cycleway on this section of Hei Hei Road:
Key features of the proposed cycleway on this section of Hei Hei Road and Buchanans Road:
Key features of the proposed cycleway on this section of Buchanans Road:
Key features of the proposed cycleway on this section of Carmen Road:
Key features of the proposed cycleway on this section of the transmission corridor:
Key features of the proposed cycleway on this section of the transmission corridor:
Key features of the proposed cycleway on this section of the transmission corridor:
Key features of the proposed cycleway on this section of the transmission corridor and Paparua Stream Reserve:
Key features of the proposed cycleway on this section of Paparua Stream Reserve and Epsom Road:
Key features of the proposed cycleway on this section of Epsom Road and Middlepark Road:
Key features of the proposed cycleway on this section of Middlepark Road:
Key features of the proposed cycleway on this section of Middlepark Road:
Key features of the proposed cycleway on this section of Middlepark Road and Craven Street:
Key features of the proposed cycleway on this section of Craven Street:
Key features of the proposed cycleway on this section of Main South Road:
Artist impression: Main South Road
Key features of the proposed cycleway on this section of Main South Road:
Key features of the proposed cycleway on this section of Main South Road:
Key features of the proposed cycleway on this section of Main South Road:
Key features of the proposed cycleway on this section of Ballantyne Avenue:
Key features of the proposed cycleway on this section of Ballantyne Avenue and Suva Street:
Key features of the proposed cycleway on this section of Suva Street:
The South Express MCR will follow the approved Nor’West Arc MCR cycleway through this section of Suva Street.
Key features of the proposed cycleway on this section of Middleton Road and Middleton Park:
Key features of the proposed cycleway on this section of Middleton Park and Lochee Road:
Key features of the proposed cycleway on this section of Lochee Road:
Artist impression: Lochee road
Key features of the proposed cycleway on this section of Lochee Road, Wharenui Road and Peverel Street:
Key features of the proposed cycleway on this section of Peverel Street:
Artist impression: Peverel Street
Key features of the proposed cycleway on this section of Peverel Street, Centennial Avenue and Elizabeth Street:
Key features of the proposed cycleway on this section of Elizabeth Street:
Key features of the proposed cycleway on this section of Elizabeth Street:
Access restrictions to Division Street are also proposed as part of this project.
Key features of the proposed cycleway on this section of Elizabeth Street:
Why the diversion at Division Street?
This design is the result of a number of considerations around the safe operation of the cycleway and the road network in this area, including:
Access to and from the area has been considered as part of the design. While people driving may not be able to use the routes they are used to, there are other routes available in the area to reach all destinations. The new traffic signals at Matipo Street and Clarence Street will help right turns onto these streets.
Key features of the proposed cycleway on this section of Elizabeth Street:
Key features of the proposed cycleway on this section of Elizabeth Street and Picton Avenue:
Access restrictions to Clarence Street off Elizabeth Street are also proposed as part of this project.
Key features of the proposed cycleway on this section of Picton Avenue and Blenheim Road:
Key features of the proposed cycleway on this section of Blenheim Road, Mandeville Street, Foster Street and Lowe Street:
Key features of the proposed cycleway on this section of Old Blenheim Road:
Meeting details and decision-making process
A staff report recommending approval of the revised South Express Major Cycle Route will be presented to the Infrastructure, Transport and Environment Committee:
Date: Monday 22 July 2019
Time: 9am start
Venue: Council Chambers, Civic Offices, 53 Hereford Street
You can read the meeting agenda that includes the staff report, revised drawings, and accompanying technical notes from 5pm, Wednesday 17 July 2019, online at christchurch.infocouncil.biz(external link)
The final decision is recorded in the meeting minutes, available online three working days after the meeting.