Monday 29 December 2014

Work starts on final section of Tuam Street to make it one-way, east-bound

Work starts on 5 January 2015 to convert a further section of Tuam Street between Antigua Street and Riccarton Avenue near the Hospital to a one-way street – making it an east-bound route into the Central City.

While work is underway, commuters can still use this section of Tuam Street and access to businesses will continue to be maintained.

From 9 January 2015, commuters can no longer turn left into Tuam Street from Antigua Street to get to Riccarton Avenue. Instead, traffic will be directed to continue west-bound on St Asaph Street and turn right into Hagley Avenue to get to Riccarton Avenue and the Hospital.

Christchurch City Council Transport and Research Unit Manager Richard Osborne says, “This work will complete the conversion of Tuam Street to a one-way, east-bound route into the Central City. This change will increase the efficiency of the travel network by giving buses a direct route into the new Bus Interchange, which is scheduled to be operational in the winter of 2015.

“Commuters have adjusted incredibly well to what are major changes to their travel patterns and we hope are now beginning to experience the benefits. With no entry to Hagley Avenueat the Hagley / Moorhouse intersection there is a reduced build up of traffic at this intersection now. We would like thank commuters for their continued patience while we make these significant traffic changes.

“At the busy Hagley / Moorhouse Avenue corner the former complex five-road intersection has now become a simple “T” intersection, with 23 per cent more green light phases than there used to be. This change is also key to reducing congestion at Hospital Corner – an anticipated 12,000 fewer vehicles per day will use this intersection than would otherwise have been the case,” Mr Osborne says.

These travel network changes are part of permanent roading changes being made at the Hagley / Moorhouse Corner and surrounding streets and at Hospital Corner, including the entry to Oxford Terrace and parts of Tuam Street, St Asaph Street and Hagley Avenue.

They come under the umbrella of An Accessible City, which is being delivered by the Council and Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority, and has been developed in partnership with the New Zealand Transport Agency, Environment Canterbury and Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu.

The changes focus on the physical changes to the travel network associated with the new Bus Interchange, Te Papa Ōtākaro / Avon River Precinct and the Hospital re-development –making more direct, efficient and enjoyable routes for all kinds of travel.

To find out more about these changes or to plan an alternative route, visit www.tfc.govt.nz
Further information about these transport projects is available online at www.ccc.govt.nz/AACtransportprojects

General information about the Christchurch Central Recovery Plan and An Accessible City can be found at www.ccdu.govt.nz/the-plan

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