We've made transport improvements in St Albans, Edgeware and Mairehau aimed at managing the traffic from the Christchurch Northern Corridor and improving connections for pedestrians and cyclists in the area.

Cranford Street crossing

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The Christchurch Northern Corridor (CNC) is open and helping people travel to and from the north of Christchurch by extending the Northern Motorway to QEII Drive and Cranford Street. 

Further information about this project is available on the NZ Transport Agency website(external link).

Ongoing monitoring

We have completed the bulk of the road works downstream from the Christchurch Northern Corridor in St Albans, Edgeware and Mairehau but we are continuing to monitor vehicle numbers travelling through. We will be trialling some changes to help minimise shortcutting through local streets.

We would like your help to let us know about any traffic issues in your neighbourhood.

We want to hear about:

  • Local streets experiencing significantly more traffic
  • Any potential safety issues in your area
  • Any other issues we need to be aware of

If you have any issues please contact us at cncdownstream@ccc.govt.nz.

You can find traffic count information here.(external link)

Bus lane trial

The Cranford Street bus lane trial, between Innes Road and Berwick Street, begins on Monday 1 March.

The bus lanes will operate:

  • city-bound from 7am to 9am
  • north-bound from 4pm to 6pm

The trial period is for three months. During this time we will be collecting information to help make a decision on whether the bus lanes should become permanent. 

Let us know what you think of the bus lane trial.(external link)

We are continuing to engage with residents about traffic calming on local streets.

Traffic calming engagement

We have been monitoring the traffic conditions on local roads since the Christchurch Northern Corridor opened in December 2020. In general traffic volumes on the wider network have not yet reached pre-Christchurch Northern Corridor levels but we expect more consistent data in the next few months.

We have identified two streets, Francis Avenue and Thames Street, where the traffic conditions have become an issue and we are putting trial measures in place to reduce the impacts on the residents. Feedback on traffic calming options last year has informed the traffic calming trial options -  left-in left-out only turning restrictions and a cul-de-sac.

The trials will be in place on Francis Ave from 1 March for approximately eight weeks and on Thames Street from 8 March for approximately two weeks. During the trials, we will continually monitor traffic on the streets and the surrounding area.

Following the trial periods, we will consult on the preferred options.  We will then develop permanent options based on that feedback.

We were planning turning restriction trials on Weston Road, Knowles Street and Mcfaddens Road, however, we are now waiting to gather more information on the traffic impacts on these streets.

Comment on the Francis Avenue trial.(external link)

Comment on the Thames Street trial.(external link)

Past consultations

Consultation on the projects took place in July and August 2019 and more than 50 changes have been made in response to feedback.

The street meetings we had planned for March/April 2020 about future traffic calming options/ideas for your street have been postponed.

This consultation followed two previous rounds in mid-2018 and early 2019. The key themes of the previous rounds of consultation were:

  • Moving people, not cars
  • Retaining a sense of community
  • Safety, particularly for people walking, biking and accessing local schools

Cranford Street will be reconfigured between Berwick Street and Innes Road.

We are working with our partner organisations to mitigate the expected increase in traffic on Cranford Street and other streets in a way that:

  • keeps everyone safe
  • encourages walking, cycling and use of public transport
  • keeps people moving through the area

This stretch of road has been widened slightly to allow for an extra lane.

The Waipapa/Papanui-Innes Community Board have recommended that Council retain the existing road layout on Cranford Street between Innes Road and Berwick Street. Parking would be retained and the additional street space would provide more room for cyclists using this stretch of Cranford Street.

The recommendation would allow the space to be used for parking while Council staff monitor vehicle numbers once the Christchurch Northern Corridor opens.

The Community Board noted their preference that if the extra lane is used in the future that it be used to promote mode shift to car pooling and buses. 

The Board's recommendation will now go to Council for a final decision.

 

Many intersections in the area have been changed, particularly on Cranford, Sherborne and Warrington streets

Artists impression of the Warrington Street-Forfgar5 Street intersection

Forfar Street and Warrington Street intersection

The following changes have been made to the intersections in the area:

  • Cranford/Malvern intersection – turning restrictions are in place. The western side of Malvern Street is left in only where it meets Cranford Street and the eastern side is left out only.
  • Cranford/Dee intersection – turning restrictions are in place. The western side of Dee  Street is left in left out where it meets Cranford Street and the eastern side is left out only.
  • Cranford/Westminster intersection – new line markings and adding cycle lanes on Westminster Street.
  • Cranford/Berwick intersection – intersection has been widened to allow an additional lane to fit through the intersection.
  • Sherborne/Edgeware intersection – cycle lanes have been added on Edgeware Road and road markings will be changed.
  • Sherborne/Canon intersection – turning restrictions in place.
  • Sherborne/Purchas intersection – turning restrictions in place.
  • Sherborne/Bealey intersection – an additional right turning lane from Sherborne Street into Bealey Ave has been added.
  • Warrington/Forfar intersection – this is now a 'T' intersection with Forfar Street north of Warrington Street becoming a cul-de-sac.
  • Warrington Barbadoes intersection – traffic lights have been installed at this intersection.
  • Edgeware/Madras intersection – line markings have been changed and painted cycle lanes added.
  • Edgeware/Barbadoes intersection – line markings have been changed and painted cycle lanes added.
  • Canon/Madras intersection – the street has been narrowed and a speed bump added on Canon Street at the approaches to this intersection.
  • Canon/Barbadoes intersection – the street has been narrowed and a speed bump added on Canon Street at the approaches to this intersection.
  • Purchas/Madras intersection – the street has been narrowed and a speed bump added on Purchas Street at the approaches to this intersection.
  • Purchas/Barbadoes intersection –  the street has been narrowed and a speed bump added on Purchas Street at the approaches to this intersection.

The safer speed zone is now in place with signs installed in February.

A 40km/h slow speed zone has been introduced from just north of Innes Road through to Bealey Avenue.

Rutland Street/Springfield Road is the western boundary for the slow speed zone, which stretches through to Hills Road in the east.

An area around the Edgeware shops is 30km/h. 

Safer speed zone

Cycle routes have been built to improve connections through the neighbourhood.

The Christchurch Northern Corridor has a shared path for pedestrians and cyclists running alongside it. A connection has also been built between this path and the Papanui Parallel.

It runs next to Cranford Street before turning west and linking with the Papanui Parallel at Rutland Reserve.

The on-road cycle routes have been built to offer east-west connections to the Papanui Parallel cycleway, as well as alternative north-south routes to connect to Madras Street and Barbadoes Street.

You can see how these fit together in the map below.

We are working with our partners on a package of projects that sit alongside the Christchurch Northern Corridor.

We are working with our partners NZ Transport Agency, Waimakariri District Council and Environment Canterbury (ECan), on a package of projects that sit alongside the Christchurch Northern Corridor.

The projects include park-and-ride facilities, additional bus services and a high occupancy vehicle lane.

High occupancy vehicle lane

The NZ Transport Agency will install a lane for vehicles with more than one person in them on State Highway One and the new Christchurch Northern Corridor motorway to encourage carpooling. This lane ends just before the Cranford Street roundabout.

Park-and-ride facilities

The Waimakariri District Council and NZ Transport Agency have agreed to co-fund park-and-ride facilities in the district to encourage carpooling.

Bus services

ECan has agreed to provide direct bus services from Christchurch north that will travel along the Christchurch Northern Corridor and Cranford Street. These services start in early 2021.

Environmental monitoring 

We are collecting air quality and noise monitoring data so we can compare data from before and after the opening of the Christchurch Northern Corridor.

Air quality data is being collected on Cranford Street, Berwick Street, Madras Street and Barbadoes Street. We are working closely with ECan and have access to St Albans air-shed station. We collected initial noise and vibration data at five sites on Springfield Road, Mcfaddens Road, Innes Road, Aylesford Street and Barbadoes Street.

The environmental monitoring sites have been chosen by independent experts.