Wheels to Wings – Papanui ki Waiwhetū Major Cycleway

Plan number

Whitchurch Place and Waimakariri Road

1. The existing underpass under Johns Road connects to the Orchard Road and McLeans Island Road shared paths. The access into the underpass from Whitchurch Place will be realigned to make it easier to negotiate by bike.
2. The existing 2m wide shared path along Whitchurch Place is retained, with access onto the road provided at each end to enable people to also cycle on the road through this section.
3. The existing 50 km/h speed limit and 40 km/h school speed zone are extended to beyond the bend on Waimakariri Road, including Whitchurch Place.
4. A new 3m wide shared path along the western side of Waimakariri Road connects to the existing shared path on the eastern side via a new 2.5m wide refuge island.

Street lighting will be upgraded to make the path safer and more comfortable for use after dark. This will include the installation of new street lights at locations to be confirmed in future stages of the project.

Harewood Road - 750 to 714

1. The refuge island and school crossing outside Harewood School is replaced with a new signalised cycle and pedestrian crossing on a raised safety platform.
2. The path on the south side of Harewood Road is widened to create a 4m wide shared path past Harewood School and Playcentre.
3. The existing narrow path on the south side of Harewood Road is widened to create a 3m wide shared path.

Raised safety platforms are being used increasingly to manage vehicle speeds at intersections and crossings on arterial roads in New Zealand and overseas.  The raised safety platforms proposed for use on Harewood Road are different to the steeper platforms used for traffic calming on local roads, in this case being designed for a maximum comfortable speed of 40 km/h.

Harewood Road - 690 to Watsons Road

1. The existing narrow path on the south side of Harewood Road is widened to create a 3m wide shared path.

Harewood Road - 658 to 586

1. The existing narrow path on the south side of Harewood Road is widened to create a 3m wide shared path.
2. Parking on the grass berm is prohibited so that drivers exiting driveways have unrestricted visibility of people cycling along the path.  Parking on the sealed shoulder is still permitted at locations without ‘no stopping’ markings.
3. New traffic signals at Wooldridge Road make the crossings safer for people walking and cycling and make it easier for drivers to turn out of Wooldridge Road.
4. The path outside Nunweek Park is widened to create a 4m wide shared path.

Harewood Road - Nunweek Park to 547

1. The path outside Nunweek Park is widened to create a 4m wide shared path.
2. Two trees east of Kilmuir Lane are removed to improve driver visibility of approaching cyclists.  Two replacement trees are planted nearby.
3. At Kilmuir Lane, the cycleway transitions to a two-way separated cycleway on the south side of the road.  This avoids affecting the mature trees in this area, while also avoiding safety issues with people cycling close to property fences at driveways.

 Harewood Road - 547 to 519

1. The cycleway transitions back to a shared path to provide space for the bus stop.
2. The existing path is widened to a 3m wide shared path to provide adequate space for people walking and cycling at this location.  This requires three trees to be removed.  Two replacement trees will be planted nearby.
3. A new signalised cycle and pedestrian crossing on a raised safety platform connects the shared path to the cycleways east of Nunweek Boulevard.
4. 2-2.2m wide one-way separated cycleways run along each side of Harewood Road.  On-street parking in the narrower section of the road is removed to fit the cycleways and retain the flush median.
5. On-street parking is provided next to the cycleway where the road widens.

Raised safety platforms are being used increasingly to manage vehicle speeds at intersections and crossings on arterial roads in New Zealand and overseas.  The raised safety platforms proposed for use on Harewood Road are different to the steeper platforms used for traffic calming on local roads, in this case being designed for a maximum comfortable speed of 40 km/h.

Harewood Road - Crofton Road to Copenhagen Bakery

1. 2.1m wide one-way separated cycleways run along each side of Harewood Road, removing a traffic lane in each direction.
2. While on-street parking is provided on both sides of the road, the amount provided is reduced to provide adequate visibility for drivers and riders at driveways and side roads, as well as to make other improvements for safety and access at bus stops and pedestrian crossing points.  P5 and P60 parking spaces are provided outside businesses in this area to help maintain convenient parking for customers and other visitors to the area.
3. Markings are added to create more width for vehicles waiting to turn at the U-turn pockets.

Council consulted on and approved a scheme in 2010 to remove a traffic lane in each direction and install cycle lanes on this section of Harewood Road, however, this was never implemented due to the earthquakes.

Harewood Road - Gardiners Road, Breens Road intersection

New traffic signals at the intersection with Gardiners and Breens Roads, approved by Council in 2019, are incorporated into the cycleway design.

1.8-2.2m wide one-way separated cycleways run along each side of Harewood Road, removing a traffic lane in each direction.

Harewood Road - 404 to 364

1. 2.2m wide one-way separated cycleways run along each side of Harewood Road, removing a traffic lane in each direction.
2. Markings are added to create more width for vehicles waiting to turn at the U-turn pockets.

On urban roads with traffic volumes such as those on Harewood Road, it is the intersections that dictate how traffic flows, not the number of lanes between intersections.  Removing a traffic lane encourages lower traffic speeds and makes the road safer for drivers and pedestrians to cross.

Harewood Road - 364 to 322

1. 2.2m wide one-way separated cycleways run along each side of Harewood Road, removing a traffic lane in each direction to the west of Bishopdale Court.
2. The Harewood Road pedestrian crossing point is shifted further away from the carpark exit to improve safety.  This requires the removal of several on-street parking spaces.

Bus stops alongside separated cycleways feature a raised island between the bus stop and the cycleway. Passengers will step on and off the bus from the raised island.

While on-street parking is provided on both sides of the road, the amount provided is reduced to provide adequate visibility for drivers and riders at driveways and side roads, as well as to make other improvements for safety and access at bus stops and pedestrian crossing points.

Bishopdale Roundabout

1. New traffic signals at the east and west ends of the Bishopdale Roundabout will provide safe crossings for people cycling and walking through the roundabout and across Harewood Road.  They will also control traffic approaching and circulating within the roundabout.
2. Drivers approaching on Highsted Road and Farrington Avenue will continue to give way to traffic approaching from their right.
3. The cycleway takes the form of a 4m wide shared path through the centre of the roundabout.  New path lighting will be provided alongside the path.
4. The removal of 12 trees in the centre of the roundabout is required.  Several oak trees need to be removed to fit the shared path and road widening.  The eucalyptus trees are removed as their falling branches pose a risk to path users, especially as they will be less stable due to the removal of the adjacent oak trees.  The remaining oak trees are removed as they are also at risk of becoming less stable, being interdependent on the surrounding trees.   Replacement trees proposed include exotic deciduous species alongside the path and natives in other parts of the roundabout.
5. Connections on and off the cycleway from Highsted Road and Farrington Avenue are provided via shared paths on the outside of the roundabout and improved crossing points in the traffic islands of both roads.
6. East of the roundabout, the cycleway joins another short section of shared path on the northern side of Harewood Road, which transitions to a two-way separated cycleway.

Multiple design options were investigated for the cycleway to negotiate the roundabout.  This option of partially signalising the roundabout provides the least delay for cycleway and road users, while providing safe crossings along the cycle route as well as across Harewood Road.

 Harewood Road - 250A to 214

1. A 2.8-3m wide two-way separated cycleway runs along the northern side of Harewood Road.  On-street parking next to the cycleway will be removed to fit the cycleway as well as to provide enough lane width for vehicle movements.
2. Additional on-street parking is provided adjacent to the central median on the southern side of Harewood Road.  This requires the removal of one westbound traffic lane but provides more space for vehicles waiting to turn at the U-turn pockets.

On urban roads with traffic volumes such as those on Harewood Road, it is the intersections that dictate how traffic flows, not the number of lanes between intersections.  Removing a traffic lane encourages lower traffic speeds and makes the road safer for drivers and pedestrians to cross.

Harewood Road and Greers Road intersection

1. The two-way cycleway narrows to 2.5m in width around the Greers Road intersection.  This allows sufficient space to fit pedestrian refuges in the central median and to provide the traffic lanes required to enable the safe and efficient operation of the intersection. The cycleway is expected to be located behind the kerb, with another low kerb separating the cycleway from the footpath.  This will be confirmed during detailed design and in conjunction with drainage design and underground service locations.
2. Additional safety improvements at the intersection include red arrows for turning traffic as pedestrians cross and providing green arrows for right-turning drivers.
3. Cycle access on and off the two-way cycleway is provided through access ramps and a double hook turn box.

The works at the Greers Road intersection will include safety improvements for people walking and driving as well as cycling.

 Harewood Road - 188A to 154

1. A 3m wide two-way separated cycleway runs along the northern side of Harewood Road.  On-street parking next to the cycleway will be removed to fit the cycleway and retain the flush median for use by turning traffic.
2. Time-restricted parking is provided at key locations and on side roads to help maintain convenient parking for customers and other visitors to the area.  The extents of parking restrictions are shown in the attached plan.

One-way separated cycleways were considered for this section of Harewood Road; however, to fit the required lane widths and the flush median, all on-street parking would have needed to be removed.

 Harewood Road - 152 to 108

1. A 3m wide two-way separated cycleway runs along the northern side of Harewood Road.  On-street parking next to the cycleway will be removed to fit the cycleway and retain the flush median for use by turning traffic.
2. Time-restricted parking is provided at key locations and on side roads to help maintain convenient parking for customers, residents, deliveries, and other visitors to the area.  The extents of parking restrictions are shown in the attached plan.
3. To improve safety for people cycling on the two-way cycleway, Wilmot Street is closed at Harewood Road and a new cul-de-sac constructed.
4. The westbound bus stop currently located near Marble Wood Drive is shifted 100m west to Harris Crescent to better space the bus stops along this part of the route, following changes proposed to other stops further east.
5. A new refuge island on Harris Crescent makes it easier for people to cross this wide intersection.

Access restrictions at Sails and Chapel Streets are also proposed as part of this project. Refer to Sheet 16.  Access to and from the surrounding area has been considered as part of the design.

 Harewood Road (Sails Street to Mitre 10 MEGA)

1. A 2.8-3m wide two-way separated cycleway runs along the northern side of Harewood Road.  On-street parking next to the cycleway will be removed to fit the cycleway and retain the flush median for use by turning traffic.
2. Sails Street is changed to exit-only onto Harewood Road to simplify the intersection layout and improve safety for people cycling on the two-way cycleway.  A cul-de-sac head is provided for vehicles to turn around to access parking on the western side of Sails Street. This requires the removal of one tree.  A replacement tree is planted nearby, along with other landscaping improvements.
3. Time-restricted parking is provided at key locations and on side roads to help maintain convenient parking for residents, deliveries, and visitors to the area.  The extents of parking restrictions are shown in the attached parking plan.
4. Chapel Street is changed to entry-only from Harewood Road to simplify the intersection layout and improve safety for people cycling on the two-way cycleway.  A cul-de-sac head is provided for vehicles to turn around to exit the street to the north.
5. Landscaping enhancements at the Chapel Street intersection includes new trees, shrubs and seating.
6. East of Matson Avenue, a new signalised pedestrian and cycle crossing connects the two-way cycleway to one-way cycleways on each side of the road, as well as to the future proposed Nor’West Arc Major Cycle Route on Matsons Avenue.  This section of the Nor’West Arc MCR is still in early stages of design and subject to consultation later in 2021.  The Wheels to Wings design will accommodate different types of cycleway on Matsons Avenue.
7. 2.2m wide one-way separated cycleways run along both sides of Harewood Road.  On-street parking next to the cycleways will be removed to fit the cycleway and retain the flush median for use by turning traffic.  One-way separated cycleways were selected for this section of Harewood Road to create a more intuitive facility to help all road users safely navigate this busy area with numerous side roads, the Mitre10 access and the junction of three Major Cycle Routes.
8. The westbound bus stop currently outside No. 47 Harewood Road is shifted 90m west, to past Matsons Avenue.  This avoids the need for an in-lane bus stop opposite the Mitre10 accessway.

 Mitre 10 MEGA to Papanui Road

1. 2.2m wide one-way separated cycleways run along both sides of Harewood Road.  On-street parking next to the cycleways will be removed to fit the cycleway and retain the flush median for use by turning traffic.  
2. The Wheels to Wings Major Cycle Route connects into the Northern Line Major Cycle Route at the rail crossing.  The Northern Line Major Cycle Route was consulted on in 2016 and approved by Council in 2017, and includes a new signalised pedestrian and cycle crossing over Harewood Road.
3. Painted cycle lanes to the east of the Northern Line provide an improved connection for more experienced cyclists through to Main North and Papanui Roads.

One-way separated cycleways were selected for east of Matsons Avenue to create a more intuitive facility to help all road users safely navigate this busy area with numerous side roads, the Mitre10 access and junction of three Major Cycle Routes.