Thursday 8 January 2015

Work underway on Central City transport projects

Work on three further Central City transport projects for Colombo, Lichfield and Tuam streets– including a section of Manchester Street – gets underway from Monday 12 January.
Christchurch City Council Transport and Research Unit Manager Richard Osborne says, “Council contractors are starting work at the central section of Tuam Street, from Durham Street eastwards, progressively converting it to a one-way, east-bound route through as far as Barbadoes Street. This work connects to the earlier one-way, east-bound conversion of Tuam Street beginning at Hospital Corner which began in late November 2014.

“Tuam Street effectively replaces Oxford Terrace and Lichfield Street as the direct route into the Central City and is also an efficient route for buses getting into the new Bus Interchange when it opens in the winter of 2015.

“Work is also underway to convert Lichfield Street between Colombo and Manchester streets to two-way. This change supports the one-way conversion of Tuam Street by Lichfield Streetbecoming the main access route for new Retail Precinct parking. Once this work is completed, northern buses coming into the city will also be able to use Lichfield Street as a direct route from Manchester Street into the new northern Bus Interchange access.

“While work progresses on these conversions, both Tuam and Lichfield streets will continue to remain open to traffic. However, they will be narrowed to allow heavy vehicles to move around the work site. Pedestrians are advised to follow signage as footpaths may need to be temporarily closed.

“Other changes will happen progressively and all works are expected to be completed by the end of 2015,” Mr Osborne says.

These travel network changes are part of permanent roading changes being made over the coming weeks and months at Colombo Street from Hereford Street to St Asaph Street, Lichfield Street from Durham Street to Manchester Street and
Tuam Street from Durham Street to Barbadoes Street including a section of Manchester Street from Lichfield Street to St Asaph Street.

Christchurch City Council has approved designs for the first five Central City transport projects under the umbrella of An Accessible City – the transport chapter of the Christchurch Central Recovery Plan.

An Accessible City 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.

These projects aim to improve traffic flow and provide safer, more people-friendly and enjoyable ways for people to get around our Central City.

Key permanent changes being made as part of the work beginning on Monday 12 Januaryinclude:

Colombo Street:
• Colombo Street works will enable it to be converted into a 30 km/h slow speed street as part of a separate project later in 2015.
• Separated ‘Copenhagen-style’ cycle lanes on both sides of Colombo Street between St Asaph and Lichfield streets.
Lichfield Street
• Lichfield Street converted from one-way to two-way just east of the Cambridge Terrace /Durham Street intersection to Manchester Street intersection.
• Lichfield Street will be the preferred route into the Retail Precinct parking, and the northern access to the Justice and Emergency Services Precinct, along with the northern access to the new Bus Interchange.
• Signal control and electronic warning arrangements to maximise pedestrian and cyclists’ safety across the new Bus Interchange access from Lichfield Street.
• Pedestrian ‘Barnes Dance’-style pedestrian crossing phase at the intersection of Colombo and Lichfield streets to reduce conflict with key cycle and walking routes along Colombo Street and pedestrian flows from the Bus Interchange plaza.
Tuam Street
• Tuam Street converted to one-way west to east between Durham and Barbadoes streets.
• A new separated cycle route along its northern side.
• Signal control and electronic warning arrangements to maximise pedestrian and cyclists’ safety across the new Bus Interchange access from Tuam Street.

Manchester Street – from Lichfield to St Asaph streets:

• Cycle lanes retained on both sides of the street.
• Lane changes to accommodate buses turning into Lichfield Street and St Asaph Street.
The street works focus on the physical changes to the travel network associated with the new Bus Interchange, the Te Papa Ōtākaro / Avon River Precinct, the Hospital re-development, new Justice and Emergency Services Precinct and the new Retail Precinct– making more direct, efficient and enjoyable routes for all kinds of travel.

For traffic updates, 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 Citycan be found at www.ccdu.govt.nz/the-plan

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