Sparks Road cycleway update and speed limit change

We are seeking comment on changes to Quarrymans Trail cycleway and speed limit change on Sparks Road between Hendersons Road and Milns Reserve.

Consultation has now closed

Consultation on Sparks Road cycleway update and speed limit change has now closed.  People were able to provide feedback from 24 August 2018 to Wednesday 12 September 2018.

Feedback received [PDF, 324 KB]

Submission 18855 [PDF, 6.9 MB]

Attachment to submission 18553 [PDF, 1.9 MB]

A report will be presented to the Infrastructure, Transport and Environment Committee for project approval at their meeting on Wednesday 7 November 2018.  The agenda will be available on the Council website from Friday 2 November 2018.

Decision

On Wednesday 7 November 2018, the Infrastructure, Transport and Environment Committee decided to approve the staff recommendation of:

• Approve construction of the shared path on the southeast side of Sparks Road between Henderson’s Road and Milns Drain.
• Approve that pursuant to Section 27(1)(a) of the Christchurch City Council Traffic and Parking Bylaw 2017, set the speed limit to 60 kilometres per hour on Sparks Road from a point 200m southwest of Victors Road to Halswell Road  and a point on Henderson’s Road 360m northwest of Sparks Road to a point 780m southeast of Sparks Road.

The Committee also added an additional recommendation:

• Note to request staff report back by March 2019, with advice from the Operations Team and an opinion from the Community Board on reducing the speed limit from 60kmh to 50kmh on Sparks Road between Hendersons and Victors Road. 

Quarrymans Trail Major Cycle Route update

We consulted with the community on the Quarryman's Trail Major Cycle Route in 2017, with construction planned for 2018/2019.  At that time the path was planned to go on the northwest side of Sparks Road, between Hendersons Road and Milns Reserve by the Orion substation.  This was shown on the drawings sent to all residents along the route.

Final design has shown the location on the northwest side not to be a practical option due to:

• the existing ditch needing to be retained to continue to provide drainage to the adjacent land until it is redeveloped

• the existing timber box drain on Hendersons Road not being removed in the short to medium term, meaning the original design would require significant piping to accommodate the cycleway

• overhead and underground services on the north side preventing relocation of the cycleway closer the road to avoid the ditch

Due to the issues above, our designers have investigated an alternative option.

Frankleigh Street section of Quarrymans Trail

This option has:

• the shared path now constructed on the southeast side of Sparks Road. This location has the advantage of connecting into the walkways that are being constructed with the wetland developments in Hendersons Basin and the Eastman Wetlands.

• a new signalised pedestrian and cycle crossing to connect to the pathway through Milns Reserve.

• the existing street lighting poles shifted back to property boundaries and some existing vegetation will also be trimmed back to the boundary.

This change will mean cyclists will not have to cross Sparks Road at the busy Hendersons Road/Sparks Road intersection to continue on the cycleway through to Milns Reserve.

The traffic lights will make it easier for people cycling on Sparks Road southwest of the cycleway to connect to the cycle path.

This connection will also help people get to and from popular cycle tracks around Halswell Quarry and Kennedys Bush.

Plan 1

Plan 2

Plan 3

Plan 4

Speed limit change

As a result of the increased activity, and future developments, the current 80km/h speed limit is no longer suitable and Council are proposing to reduce the speed limit to 60km/h where it is currently 70km/h and 80km/h.

The proposed change would also affect a section of Hendersons Road as it approaches the current Sparks Road roundabout from Halswell Road.

Speed limit process

The Christchurch City Council Speed Limits Bylaw 2010 allows the Council to set and change speed limits on roads within Christchurch. The authority for the Council to do this is contained in the Land Transport Rule, Setting of Speed Limits 2003 Rule 54001 and the Christchurch City Council Speed Limits Bylaw 2010.

Open all

Speed Limit Plan

[PDF, 3.7 MB]

Click to enlarge

Project timing

The planned new speed would be implemented at the same time the cycleway is built.  Timing for construction is between November 2018 and April 2019.