Tuesday 12 April 2016

Proposed 2016 marathon course released

The proposed route for the 2016 Christchurch Airport Marathon has been released, with changes to last year's route through the Central City, and significant changes to traffic management plans to minimise disruption.

To be held on 5 June, the 2016 marathon is proposed to start and finish in Cathedral Square, with a loop around Hagley Park, before heading out east and then returning to the Central City for the finish.

In 2015, when the marathon returned to the Central City for the first time since the earthquakes, heavy traffic congestion caused access issues for the hospital and emergency services, as well as significant delays to travel.

To alleviate these problems for this year's event, marathon organisers and the Council's Transport Operations Centre have been working closely with Canterbury District Health Board, Environment Canterbury and other Central City stakeholders to come up with a revised traffic management plan.

Changes for this year's event include:

• The route has been changed to retain access to the hospital.
• Traffic will be diverted onto alternative roads and not allowed to cross the marathon route.
• Montreal and Durham Streets will be open from 10am.
• An operations centre including emergency services, event and traffic operations will be established.
• The marathon start time has been moved 30 minutes earlier to reduce impacts on peak traffic later in the day.
• Enhanced communications and signage.

Proposed traffic impacts in the Central City on 5 June 2016 include:

Central City 6am–10am

• All north-south central city routes will be restricted by the marathon route, and detours will direct traffic onto Deans Avenue.
• Motorists will need to allow an extra 10 to 20 minutes to cross the central city during this time.
• This will include delays along the detour route on Deans Avenue.

Central City 10am–2pm

• Montreal Street and Durham Street will be open, and detours will be changed to direct traffic onto these routes.
• Along these routes, drivers will be advised to allow an extra 30 to 40 minutes between 11:00am - 2:00pm.

"The traffic issues during the marathon last year were unacceptable," says Manager Christchurch Transport Operations Centre Ryan Cooney.

"We are committed to making this year's event a great experience for people taking part and their supporters, as well as minimising disruption for businesses, residents and people coming into the centre of town.

"However, this is a major sporting event going through a central city area, so there will always be a level of disruption. We do need motorists to be aware of this and all the transport options then plan their trips accordingly on the day."

Submissions around the proposed route and traffic impacts will open tomorrow (Wednesday 13 April) and close on Thursday 28 April. Anyone who wishes to comment on the proposed event can do so in writing to the Council secretary, Christchurch City Council, PO Box 73016, Christchurch, by 4pm on Thursday 28 April 2016.

For more information, including a map of the proposed route, please visit www.tfc.govt.nz

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