7 Mar 2018

Share this story

The route has been finalised for the new Nor’West Arc cycleway that will connect cycle routes to the west of the city.

Christchurch City Council’s Infrastructure, Transport and Environment (ITE) Committee approved the route for the Nor’West Arc at a meeting today.

Councillor Pauline Cotter, the Chair of the ITE Committee, says the new cycleway will improve connectivity between cycle routes.

A shadow of a cyclist.

The new Nor'West Arc cycleway route has been confirmed.

“Once complete the Nor’West Arc cycleway will connect to the Quarryman’s Trail, South Express, Ōpāwaho, Uni–Cycle and Northern Line cycleways, so it plays an important linking role.

“It will provide a high quality route from Cashmere, Hoon Hay, Spreydon, Middleton and Upper Riccarton to the University of Canterbury. It will also make it safer for students to ride their bikes to the nine schools along the route.

“School students are one of the key groups we would like to see give cycling a go, so it is great to see so many schools along this route,’’ Cr Cotter says.

The cycleway will feature the first cycle ‘barnes dance’ in the country, with cyclists able to cross at all parts of the intersection at once, similar to some pedestrian crossings in the central city.

The full Nor’West Arc route starts at Cashmere Road, near Princess Margaret Hospital, and runs north across the western side of the city, eventually connecting to the Northern Line cycleway near St James Park in Papanui.

Consultation on the part of the route between Princess Margaret Hospital and the University of Canterbury took place last year.

The following were among 36 changes made as a result of the public’s feedback:

  • Parking moved to the other side of Suva Street to double the number of parks available
  • Landscaping changed to address local concerns on McBeath Street and at the intersection of Annex Road and Mokihi Gardens
  • Priority for cyclists added at the intersection of Annex Road and Venture Place

The timing for construction of the route will depend upon what is decided in the Long Term Plan (LTP). Under the draft LTP, work on the first section is due to start in 2021.