Wairakei Rd and Grahams Rd Intersection safety improvements

Residents and motorists have raised concerns about safety at the intersection of Wairakei and Grahams roads. To improve safety here we’re making changes to the road layout.

Wairakei and Grahams Rd Intersection

28/07/2020. Update - Decision made

We’ve made a decision on the Wairakei Road/Grahams Road Intersection: Proposed Safety Improvements

Thanks for taking the time to let us know your views about the Wairakei Road/Grahams Road Intersection: Proposed Safety Improvements. The Waimāero/Fendalton-Waimairi-Harewood Community Board decided to approve the proposal on 15 June 2020. Council then approved the associated cycle lane elements of the proposal on 9 July 2020. 

In approving the proposal, the Waimāero/Fendalton-Waimairi-Harewood Community Board included the following resolution:

• Staff will review the operation of the intersection in six months’ time as to whether Right turn arrows or any other safety enhancements would further improve the safety and efficiency and report back to the Community Board in time for the long term plan submission process.

You can view the meeting minutes, which include the formal resolutions, online at christchurch.infocouncil.biz(external link)

What happens next?

We expect construction to begin in August 2020.

Update - 27/05/2020 - Consultation has closed 

Consultation on the Wairakei and Grahams Roads intersection safety improvements proposal has now closed and we received feedback from 51 individuals and groups. You can find more information here:

• All submissions received [PDF, 1.4 MB]
• Key issues raised and staff responses [PDF, 105 KB]
• The updated plans for approval. [PDF, 656 KB]

There have been four serious crashes in the last five years at this intersection. In 2018 there was also a serious pedestrian accident and Council have been requested to also improve safety for pedestrians at this intersection.

The current layout has both turning and straight ahead arrows in each lane approaching the intersection. This increases the likelihood of drivers changing between lanes, often without indication, to move around right-turning traffic.

What we’re doing

• Realigning the lanes on all four approaches
• Pedestrian protection
• Introducing painted cycle lanes
• Extending the no stopping area

We will also remark an existing bus stop on Wairakei Road while we are working in the area.

Wairakei & Grahams Rd - Plan

Current Wairakei and Grahams Rd intersection lane layout

Existing bus stop on Wairakei Rd to be marked out

Making the intersection safer

We are going to realign the lanes, from two shared lanes to a dedicated right turn and a shared left-turn/straight-through lane on each approach. This will improve traffic flow and reduce poor driver behaviour.

We’re also improving pedestrian and cyclist safety by introducing fully protected pedestrian phases across all approaches, and with the changes, newly painted cycle lanes can be included due to the additional road space.

We are also extending the no-stopping restrictions on both sides of the road on all four approaches.

Before the Waimāero/Fendalton-Waimairi-Harewood Community Board make their decision on these changes,  we want to know what you think.