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STACY SQUIRES / Stuff
Traffic congestion on Brougham St during the evening rush.
A $ 40 million proposal to ease congestion on Christchurch’s busiest highway may have dedicated bus and truck lanes.
Brougham St has the highest traffic volumes in Christchurch with up to 45,000 vehicles per day and congestion increases with traffic volumes growing by up to 3.8 percent annually, according to the Waka Kotahi NZ Transportation Agency (NZTA).
The main thoroughfare that runs east-west through some of the city’s southern suburbs provides a crucial link for trucks carrying cargo to and from Lyttelton Port. It is also a key connection to the South Christchurch Expressway.
NZTA has predicted that congestion will worsen as Christchurch’s population grows and the Port of Lyttelton expects to double its container production over the next 25 years.
NZTA is investigating a $ 40 million project to add dedicated lanes to the route, also known as State Highway 76, and change the designs of the intersections to make them safer for bicyclists. Single occupant car lanes are not being considered.
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An NZTA spokeswoman said the project recently secured $ 40 million in funding from the New Zealand Update Program as part of the government’s Covid-19 response package.
It would look for ways to provide reliable delivery of cargo and services and improve safety at intersections, particularly for pedestrians and bicyclists, he said.
Michael Hayward / Stuff
Students from nearby Addington School crossed Brougham St near Collins St and Simeon St. A bicyclist died at this intersection after being hit by a van on September 17, 2020.
“We are now doing some proof of concept before going back to the public later this year to get their feedback on our ideas and designs.”
Work is expected to begin in late 2022 and take two years to complete.
The dangers posed by high traffic volumes on Brougham St have been a subject of heated debate.
Russell Phillip Frankum, in his 50s, was hit and killed by a pickup truck while biking down Brougham St near the end of the town of Christchurch Southern Motorway in September.
Frankum had no green light when he crossed the crossing with controlled lights for pedestrians and cyclists on Brougham St near Collins St.
STACY SQUIRES / Stuff
Brougham St has the highest traffic volumes in Christchurch with up to 45,000 vehicles per day and is growing at up to 3.8 percent annually, according to NZTA data.
At the time of the accident, a witness said Things thought the intersection was a “nightmare”, while another resident called it “extremely dangerous.”
Staff at Addington School, which is located on Brougham St, have lobbied the NZTA, Christchurch City Council and local MPs for the past three years for new security measures.
The chairwoman of the board of directors, Jo Robertson, said
the primary concern of the school community was to make sure they participated in the process and that the safety of pedestrians and bicyclists was a priority.
“It is our community, we want to be consulted, we want to be aware, we do not want decisions to be made without us.”
The NZTA spokeswoman said staff met with the school last year regarding their safety concerns.
Several improvements were agreed upon, including new signage and improved lines at the intersection of Collins and Simeon streets. These were completed before classes started this year, he said.
