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Port Hills Rd re-route pleas |
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Credit: Christchurch Mail
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Friday, 24 April 2009 |
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 A renewed plea to re-route cyclists off the Heathcote sidewalks under the Lyttelton flyover has been taken to the Hagley-Ferrymead Community Board recently amid mounting concern for children’s safety. "It’s a serious matter," Heathcote Valley Community Association chair Ian McLeod said.
"We’ve got children walking to and from school who have to compete with cyclists for access along a footpath which is not wide enough for cyclists as well," he said. "Kids of five, six, seven and eight can’t be left to walk that on their own with cars and heavy trucks travelling to and from the port on this route."
Last year, the New Zealand Transport Agency, the state roading authority, designated the sidewalks as shared pedestrian/ cycleways and signposted them as such. Locals regarded this as the cheapest possible option.
Since that time, pressure has mounted for cyclists on the Port Hills Road approach to the underpass, to be re-routed left through the Horotane Valley from Heathcote. "Safety at this time is still the paramount issue for children going to and from Heathcote Valley School as well as for cyclists trying to negotiate the heavy traffic constantly flowing through the clover-leaf intersection," Mr McLeod said.
 In June last year, Drina Sisarich, as community chair, urged the community board to act to improve cyclist and pedestrian safety "at this very dangerous intersection". "Some cyclists use the footpaths intimidating pedestrians while others stick to the roads to protect their ‘road-user’ rights," Mr McLeod said.
Some years ago, Christchurch City Council staff held consultations with neighbouring Horotane property owners about making land available for an alternative walkway or cycleway. "What became of those discussions," he said.
"This is a matter of safety at all levels. We’re talking about a narrow corridor accommodating four levels of traffic and four rates of speed on two key routes. We’ve been banging our heads. Once kids get through there heading back towards Avoca Valley, there are no footpaths so there is cause for real alarm."
Hagley-Ferrymead Board chair Bob Todd said since last June’s deputation of concerned residents, the board had been waiting for a report from council staff. Mr McLeod has put the case again to the monthly meeting of the Hagley-Ferrymead Board recently and the result will be awaited with interest.
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