Council backs Waimakariri Bridge third lane

Christchurch City Council is backing plans to add a third south-bound lane over the Waimakariri River.

Backed-up traffic heading into Christchurch from the north.

But its support is conditional on the lane being for buses or high occupancy vehicles only and a separated cycle lane also being built.

If approved, the high occupancy vehicle lane will be the first for Christchurch and will require motorists to think about how they travel on the motorway.

The Greater Christchurch Urban Development Strategy Implementation Committee today voted to support the adding of a third south-bound lane on Christchurch’s Northern Motorway across the Waimakariri Bridge.

The Committee is made up representatives from all of the local authorities in the greater Christchurch area.

Christchurch Mayor Lianne Dalziel says the addition of a third lane allows future congestion problems at the bridge to be addressed in a way that promotes travel choice, including public transport, cycling and carpooling, but limits the downstream effects on the community to the south.

"The local Community Board has been understandably nervous about these downstream effects and the last thing we want to do is transfer the problem from Tram Rd to the St Albans community,'' Ms Dalziel says.

If the proposed third south-bound lane across the bridge is approved and funded by the NZ Transport Agency, it should improve travel time reliability and safety along this section of the motorway, as well as providing improved travel choices for those wanting to carpool, use public transport or cycle.

The Transport Agency’s Board will consider the proposal at its June meeting.

It is proposed the additional lane on the bridge will be managed as a high occupancy vehicle lane, from Tram Rd through to QEII Dr, on the new Christchurch Northern Corridor.