Southern View: September 24, 2020

SOUTHERN VIEW Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
Thursday September 24 2020 5
Progress on transport projects
• By Louis Day
THE CITY council is
currently collaborating
with communities over two
projects which will look to
boost pedestrian safety in
Beckenham and Somerfield.
The Beckenham oriented
project will look to make
changes to the area’s transport
network in order to enhance
pedestrian safety.
It was given $132,250 from
the New Zealand Transport
PLANNERS ARE considering
“an emerging option” in a
bid to tackle safety concerns
along one of the city’s
busiest roads, it has
emerged.
Transport planners
are mulling the as-yet
undisclosed option
as part of work on
the much-anticipated
Brougham St/Moorhouse
Ave project.
The project was
supposed to yield a
preferred option to improve
road safety in late 2019, but
that was pushed to allow for
additional work.
New Zealand Transport
Agency director regional
relationships Jim Harland said
the Covid-19 response
had also affected time
frames.
However, progress
was being made on
the joint NZTA/city
council project.
As recently as
last week, additional
workshops with
transport planners
from both organisations
were held with regard
to an emerging option for the
area, he said.
A business case was expected
Agency’s Innovating Streets for
People pilot fund.
The project which will
trial lower speeds, safe crossing
points and intersection changes.
A report from the city
council stated traffic speeds
throughout the neighbourhood
are perceived to be reducing
pedestrian and cyclist safety.
Data collected the space of an
hour showed that 35 per cent
were travelling faster than the
50km/h speed limit.
The Somerfield project focuses
on making changes to the
layout of Selwyn St in a bid to
make the area safer for pedestrians.
It was also given $132,250
from the NZTA’s fund.
The streets intersection with
Somerfield St is a particular
area of concern, with the site
being the location of a serious
crash between a cyclist and car
in February.
The initiative will be trialling
changes to make crossing the
street at its various intersections
safer while looking to
by either the end of this year,
or early next year, Harland
confirmed.
The overall project did
not have a price tag, but the
government has allocated $40
million to improve safety and
provide better travel choices
along Brougham st.
That work would include creating
prioritised north-south
public transport routes, and
dedicated walking and cycling
access across the highway.
Work is expected to get under
way late 2022 and take two
years to complete.
At the Spreydon-Cashmere
Community Board meeting
make access to the Selwyn St
shops more comfortable for
pedestrians.
The city council is now working
in partnership with key
stakeholders within the two
communities in what it has
called the “planning and codesign
phase” for both projects.
It is hoping to have the initial
designs completed for both projects
by the end of this month.
It will then push to have the
designs installed by the end of
next month.
Bid to tackle safety concerns on busy roads
Jim Harland
last week, transport operator
John McCormack urged NZTA
to build a tunnel for pedestrians
and cyclists.
It would ease safety concerns
where Brougham St intersects
with Simeon and Collins Sts,
immediately after the overbridge,
he said.
Trucks leaving the overbridge
over Barrington St often
travel at speeds that make it
difficult to stop quickly enough
at the intersection, he said.
The board referred the
pitch to the agency and to
the council’s Brougham St/
Moorhouse Ave Investigation
Project Team for advice.
Saturday 26 th
September
Meet Megan
Woods, MP for
Wigram on a
corner in your
neighbourhood.
AIDANFIELD
1pm
1.20pm
1.40pm
2pm
Malachy Grove &
Euphrasie Dr
McMahon Dr &
Aidanfield Dr
Somerville Cres &
Eliza Pl
Mariposa Cres &
Constance Pl
BROOMFIELD
2.40pm
3pm
3.20pm
3.40pm
Vanguard Dr &
Buchanans Rd
Vanguard Dr &
Arcon Dr
Kintyre Dr &
Neathwest Ave
Carradale Ave &
Rannoch Dr
If you would like to get in touch with
Megan please call 03 338 6347 or
email megan.woods@wigram.org.nz
Tracey McLellan
for Banks Peninsula
AT THE
TANNERY
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027 227 3969
tracey.mclellan@labour.org.nz
www.labour.org.nz
/traceymclellanlabour
@traceymclellan
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