Next steps for Wheels to Wings cycle route
Christchurch City Council Newsline: 16th October 2024
Several alternative options are being considered for the Wheels to Wings - Papanui ki Waiwhetū major cycle route.
Following the government’s announcement of the National Land Transport Programme in September, Councillors are discussing the future of the Wheels to Wings major cycle route at Annual Plan briefings. The NLTP confirmed that there will be no government funding contribution for Wheels to Wings in the 2024–2027 programme.
There is $16.5 million available for the project included in the Long Term Plan 2024-34, however the latest estimates for the route are higher. There is also an additional $2 million included in the LTP for the signalisation of the Harewood Road/Gardiners Road/Breens Road intersection.
“Although we’re facing some challenges with funding, providing safe and efficient cycling options for our community remains a priority,” said Brent Smith, General Manager City Infrastructure.
“Without a funding contribution from government, the Council cannot deliver the design approved in 2022 within the total available budget of $18.5 million.”
“We're putting forward seven options for elected members to consider, to keep this project moving forward. Several of these alternative design options could be delivered at a lower cost than the approved design.”
Each option and the estimated cost are detailed below. Council staff will get a direction from elected members regarding which option is preferred. There will be an additional five-month period of work to replace the watermain on Harewood Road on top of the timeframes outlined below. The pipes are at the end of their service life and this work needs to happen regardless of the option chosen for Wheels to Wings.
All of the alternative designs include:
- A lane reduction from four lanes to two lanes in the central section of the cycleway
- The signalisation of the Harewood Road/Gardiners Road/Breens Road intersection
- A connection to the Northern Line and Nor’West Arc major cycle routes.
Councillors will discuss these options during the Annual Plan briefings on 15, 22, and 29 October 2024.
“The Council and community will continue to work together to find the best way to make this stretch of road safer for everyone who bikes through this neighbourhood,” said Mr Smith.
Below are details of the options being considered...
Option 1 - Council approved design
This option would provide a separated cycle facility from the eastern end of the route (the railway end) to Nunweek Park, and a shared path at the western end (towards Johns Road). The cost to complete the approved design is around $28.5 million, which is over the remaining available budget. This option would deliver the safest cycleway option for riders, include all features presented in community consultations, and remove 336 car parks. Construction of this option would take around 15 months.
Option 2 - Council approved design with design changes
This option includes changes to the approved design to reduce costs. It would provide a separated cycleway in the busiest and highest-risk sections of the route and would improve the existing cycle facility in the western section. The estimated cost is approximately $25.5 million, which is over the remaining available budget. This option would require a new decision report and limited community consultation. It would keep most of the features included in previous community consultations. Construction of this option would take around 12 months and would remove 336 car parks.
Option 3 - Reduced extent of council approved design with design changes
This option keeps the approved design in the eastern and central sections, with small design changes to lower costs. It focuses on sections that members of the community consider the most unsafe and uncomfortable for cyclists, with a separated cycle facility from the eastern end of the route, ending at Nunweek Boulevard. The cost to complete this option is approximately $20.5 million, which is $2 million over the remaining available budget. Construction would take around 10 months and would remove 315 car parks.
Option 4 - Within budget reduced extent of Council approved design
This option would involve constructing about half of the route, including the eastern section and half of the central sections. It would make use of an existing shared path on the south side of Harewood Road, from Nunweek Boulevard to Johns Road. It would not provide a cycle facility through the four-laned section of Harewood Road west of Cotswold Avenue, which submitters considered the most unsafe section for cyclists. The cost to complete Option 4 would be around $18 million, which would fit within the remaining available budget. Construction would take around nine months and would remove 152 car parks.
Option 5 - Staged construction of the Council approved design
This option would deliver the Council approved design in stages to make use of the current project budget, and any additional funding made available in future years. The total cost is unclear for this option but is likely to be more than the current-day cost of $28.5 million if some cycleway sections are delivered in later years. Depending on the length of the delay in completing the remaining sections of the cycleway, further community consultation and decision report may be required.
Option 6 - Buffered painted cycle lanes and new signals
This option would involve painting cycle lanes with a buffer separation of up to 1 metre from the eastern end of the route to Nunweek Boulevard, as well as including the connection to the Northern Line and Nor’West Arc major cycle route. There are safety implications for this option, including interactions with a high number of fast-moving vehicles including buses and trucks, and the risk of being struck by opening vehicle doors. The cost to complete Option 6 would be around $10.5 million, with a construction duration of around seven months. Full community consultation and a new decision report would be needed.
Option 7 - Signalisation of the Breens/Gardiners/Harewood intersection
This option would deliver full signalisation of this busy intersection with painted cycle lanes only on the approaches, and the connection to the Northern Line and Nor’West Arc major cycle routes. It would defer the delivery of the cycleway until funding is confirmed in future. The cost to complete Option 7 would be around $5 million, and construction would take around four months. This option would remove around 60 parking spaces and could be delivered within the existing budget. Further community consultation and a decision report may be required.