Christchurch bike path partially sealed labeled ‘ridiculous’

A new, partially sealed and bumpy bike lane in East Christchurch is being labeled “ridiculous.”

Jo Zervos, a member of the Coastal Ward Community Board, told the Herald that parts of New Brighton Rd, which was “very well used”, had recently been resealed.

However, he said that council staff told him it was not within the scope of the works to finish the curb on some parts of the road because there were insufficient funds.

“They have resealed the center of the road, but they left the edge in that section,” he said.

“I thought it would have been common sense to do that little bit at the same time.”

The area in question covered about 200 meters, he said.

The edge of the road had been completed in some areas. Photo / Jo Zervos

Instead, a bike lane had been painted on the edge. Zervos said that the new bike lane covered the edge of the new seal, the old seal, had several potholes and large cracks.

She thought it was a bit “ridiculous” when she first saw it.

Zervos said that at some points cyclists would be forced to dodge obstacles in the bike lane as they swerve into traffic.

“It would probably have been better not to put a bike lane there, just leave it without.”

The community board had been working on long-term options for that road, which was also prone to flooding.

Christchurch City Council Transport Chief Richard Osbourne says the bikeway markings will be covered and the area reduced in the meantime until fixed.

The area that Jo Zervos is concerned about covers about 200 meters. Photo / Jo Zervos

“These resealing jobs on New Brighton Road are not the completion of the project,” he said.

“While the smoothing work was largely completed last week, the final surface, which is a chip surface, will cover curb to curb, not just the currently repaired section.”

That work is scheduled to be completed in early November.

“The delay between the current works and the final coat is to allow the repairs to harden. The clean-up and trail cleaning work will continue this week and we are pushing to complete the works to the roadside this week as well.”