Christchurch city councillors have voted in favour of a revised design for the controversial $20 million Wheels to Wings cycleway.
The revised scheme design for the 4.5km Wheels to Wings - Papanui ki Waiwhetū major cycle route was approved yesterday, clearing the way for detailed design work to now start.
"The scheme design we have approved is very different to the scheme design that we originally consulted on back in 2020," said Mayor Lianne Dalziel.
"Over the past two years we have engaged extensively with the community on the scheme design and they have provided us with invaluable feedback that has caused us to pause and re-evaluate elements of it.
"I chaired the harings panel that met earlier this year to consider the public submissions and it was clear to all Panel members that the community was very informed and engaged.
"The submissions raised some valid issues, many of which we have been able to address in the revised scheme design.
"Some other issues raised by individual submitters will be actively investigated by Council staff as part of the detailed design process," Dalziel said.
The cycleway is one of the most controversial of the city's 13 other major routes.
Said Keown: "The community is overwhelmingly against this, but council constantly does it to the community, not with the community, hence why our popularity rating is where it's at.”
The city council received 1348 submissions from residents, businesses and organisations on the cycleway earlier this year. Many of the submitters provided detailed feedback and the approved scheme design includes about 70 changes based on their submissions.
The Wheels to Wings cycleway will go along Harewood Rd, from the Johns Rd underpass, via Whitchurch Place and Waimakariri Rd, to the railway line where it will connect to the Nor’West Arc and Northern Line major cycle routes.
The western section of Wheels to Wings, from the Johns Rd underpass to Nunweek Park, will be a shared path.
The section from Nunweek Boulevard to the Bishopdale roundabout will have one-way separated cycleways on each side of the road next to the kerb.
For the section from the roundabout to Greers Rd, there will be a two-way cycleway on the north side of Harewood Road.
The final section, from Greers Rd to the railway line, will be a two-way separated cycleway on the north side of Harewood Rd.
Traffic lights will be installed at the intersection of Harewood, Gardiners and Breens Rds and the Bishopdale roundabout will be partially signalised as part of the scheme design.
The city council has budgeted $22.6 million for the Wheels to Wings cycleway, which includes $1.2 million for intersection traffic lights.
