Author: Simon Britten

An update on today’s Council decision on lights at the Harewood/Gardiners/Breens intersection: the recommendation to include the traffic signals in the scope and budget for the proposed Wheels to Wings cycleway was passed, but not the recommendation to deliver the cycleway earlier than currently planned. From the article linked below:
“Once the vote to include the lights in the cycleway was carried, councillors then voted on bringing forward construction of the cycleway from the existing 2026/28, which would have allowed the lights to be installed earlier along with the cycleway.
The vote was lost, after an eight-all tie. Crs Keown, MacDonald, James Gough, Yani Johanson, Melanie Coker, Tim Scandrett, Phil Mauger, and Catherine Chu voted against bringing the cycleway forward. James Daniels had left the meeting at that stage and did not vote.”
https://www.stuff.co.nz/…/residents-face-sixyear-wait-for-t…

Residents face six-year wait for traffic lights at Christchurch intersection

“Residents in Christchurch’s north-west will have to wait until at least 2026 before lights are built at an unpopular intersection…”

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In September 2019 the Council voted to support traffic signals at the Harewood/Gardiners/Breens intersection, asking staff to investigate options to fund the estimated $1.2m cost. A staff report will be presented to the Finance and Performance Committee tomorrow, recommending that the signals be added to the scope and budget for the proposed Wheels to Wings cycleway and that the Council considers bringing forward the timing of that project. Adding signals to the scope of the cycleway “…may allow the costs of the signalisation to attract NZTA subsidy”.

Alternatively the Council could vote to deliver signals as a stand-alone project, which would not be subsidised by NZTA and would require either new funding or substitution of other projects in the annual plan. The report notes that signals cannot be funded out of the Council’s intersection safety programme, as the intersection is outside the top 100 riskiest in Christchurch. Due to Council and community support for signalisation, a ‘do nothing’ option was ruled out by staff.

The full report can be found at item 16 of the agenda linked below. The committee meeting is open for the public to attend and is also live streamed online.
https://christchurch.infocouncil.biz/…/FPCO_20200305_AGN_40…

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The Waipapa/Papanui-Innes Community Board will meet at 9:15am this Friday 6 March in the Papanui boardroom. There's only a brief agenda for this meeting, including a public forum of up to 30 minutes for members of the public to speak to the Board (currently five speaking slots have been allocated, three of which are young people reporting back on national and international events). The meeting is open for the public to attend. Click through to read the full agenda:
https://christchurch.infocouncil.biz/…/PICB_20200306_AGN_41…

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QEII Drive will be closed in both directions tonight Tuesday 3 March, between Main North Rd and the Innes Rd roundabout, from 9pm until 6am tomorrow. This is for a concrete pour on the CNC overbridge. There's a chance that wet weather could extend the work for one or two extra nights. Click through for more information:
https://www.nzta.govt.nz/…/cnc-qeII-drive-project-update-20…

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New speed limits are being introduced from today downstream of the Christchurch Northern Corridor motorway. Most of the roads involved will change to a 40 km/h speed limit, with a number of new 30 km/h areas. Click through for more info:
https://ccc.govt.nz/transport/traffic-updates/travel-news/show/164

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St James Ave in Papanui is currently closed due to a fallen power pole. Contractors are on site. Take care, and avoid the area if you can.

 

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An update on the search for Heather from Papanui: “It was just a normal thing to do”, says Heather in this interview, after being tracked down by Newshub:
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2020/02/jacinda-ardern-s-search-ends-newshub-tracks-down-heather-from-papanui.html

 

Jacinda Ardern’s search ends: Newshub tracks down Heather from Papanui

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Mersey Street has a no entry northbound from Dee Street due to urgent sewer repair works. Note that this is in addition to the current closure of both Dee St and Malvern St at Cranford St for CNC downstream works.

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‘Heather from Papanui’: if you’re out there, you may wish to contact the Prime Minister’s office.
https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/fijian-mosque-attack-widow-asks-prime-minister-help-find-heather-papanui-showed-kindness-in-wake-march-15-atrocity

 

Fijian mosque attack widow asks Prime Minister to help find ‘Heather from Papanui’, who showed kindness in wake of March 15 atrocity

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At the 21 February meeting, the Waipapa/Papanui-Innes Community Board: received correspondence on a number of issues including Langdons Road traffic and a proposed housing complex in Innes Ward; approved the grant of an easement in Rutland Reserve to Orion to allow lighting of the planned cycle path; approved four applications to the Board's Youth Development Fund; and received an area report on initiatives and issues current within the Community Board area. The next meeting of the Board will be on 6 March. Click through to read the full minutes:
https://christchurch.infocouncil.biz/…/PICB_20200221_MIN_42…

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