Have your say on new cycleway routes

Public consultation is open on two major cycle routes - the first stage of the Nor’West Arc and revised options for the Heathcote Expressway.

Christchurch City Council Head of Transport Chris Gregory said the two consultations were a chance to provide feedback on two of the city’s proposed major cycle routes.

“Council is investing $156 million in 13 major cycle routes across the city over the next seven years. The routes all connect, creating a cycle network throughout the entire city. The two routes which have opened for consultation are another step towards that network,” Mr Gregory said. 

Cyclists travelling on the Unicycle path in Hagley Park.

Feedback is being sought on Te Ara O-Rakipaoa: The Nor’West Arc route, which starts at Cashmere Road near Princess Margaret Hospital and runs north across the western side of the city, eventually connecting to the Northern Line cycleway near St James Park in Papanui.

“At this point, we’re asking for feedback on the first stage of this cycleway, from Cashmere Road to the University,” Mr Gregory said. “This first stage of the proposed route connects Cashmere, Spreydon, Middleton and Upper Riccarton, while going past Pioneer Recreation and Sports Centre, Hillmorton Hospital, the University of Canterbury and a number of schools along the way.”

This route is expected to be used primarily by commuters and students. It will help provide for post-earthquake travel patterns that have followed development and employment re-locations. Feedback on the rest of the route will be sought at a later date.

The full Nor’West Arc route will also connect to a number of existing and proposed cycle routes including Uni-Cycle, the Little River Link, the Ōpāwaho River Route and the Northern Line Cycleway.

Council will this week also seek further feedback on the Heathcote Expressway, as a result of consultation undertaken in November/December last year. The Expressway will run from Heathcote through Ferrymead, Opawa and Woolston before heading into the Central City.

Further investigations have been undertaken to consider the parking impact on the Ferry Road section of the proposed Heathcote Expressway with two options developed: a Preferred Option and an Alternative Option.

Mr Gregory said the two options were a separated cycle way on either side of the road (preferred option) or a two way cycleway on the south side of the road with a traffic island in the middle.

The Heathcote Expressway will be both a commuter and recreational route with connections to Ōpāwaho River Route and therefore the Rapanui to Shag Rock Cycleway and Christchurch Coastal Pathway.

Have Your Say on Major Cycle Routes.