Peak hour bus lanes will be installed along Lincoln Road and a small stretch of Moorhouse Avenue in 2020 to make bus journey times shorter and more reliable.

This is part of a wider project to improve transport options around the growth areas of Halswell, Wigram and Hoon Hay.

The southwest of Christchurch is growing fast, with 35,000 people expected to move into the area over the next 30 years.

By improving bus journey times and reliability we will cater to this growth, allow buses to come more often and reduce congestion along Lincoln Road and Halswell Road.

The section of Lincoln Road between Whiteleigh Ave and Wrights Road is already four lanes and no changes are proposed along this stretch.

There are two parts to this project.

Stage one between Moorhouse Avenue and Whiteleigh Avenue where bus lanes peak hour bus lanes were recently approved by Council and will be constructed in 2020.

Plans were recently approved to install bus lanes on both sides of Lincoln Road, between Moorhouse Avenue and Whiteleigh Avenue. The bus lanes will operate weekdays between 7am and 9am, for the city-bound journey, and between 4pm and 6pm for the Halswell-bound journey.

A bus lane will also be installed on the south side of Moorhouse Avenue, between Selwyn Street and Lincoln Road. This bus lane will only operate between 4pm and 6pm.

The speed limit on Lincoln Road, between Moorhouse Avenue and Whiteleigh Street, will be reduced to 30kmh and a new traffic light-controlled pedestrian crossing installed by Addington Village so that people accessing the area’s popular bars, cafes, and restaurants can get across the road safely.

It is anticipated that work on the bus priority measures will begin in early 2020. The work is expected to take about six months to complete but it will be done in stages to minimise the impact on local businesses.

By introducing the bus lanes we expect to improve the reliability of bus journey times and reduce average bus trip times by about six-and-a-half minutes in the evening peak and four-and-a-half minutes in the morning peak.

Stage two between Wrights Road and Curletts Road where we expect to consult on options in 2020.

We are proposing to widen this part of Lincoln Road to include a bus lane heading into the city and a general vehicle lane heading away from the city. A central median is also being proposed.

We will be consulting on the proposed changes next year.