Strong response to dangerous intersections
A Council call for the public to highlight dangerous intersections hit a raw nerve with the people of Christchurch as
more than 2600 responses flooded in.
Police will be targeting some key traffic-light intersections for enforcement, after pedestrians highlighted concerns
about being unable to cross safely, while the Council is using some information to help prioritise some of its long-term
planning for works on intersections.
Council transport researcher Paul Cottam said that motorists were most concerned with turning at traffic signals, while
cyclists cited larger city roundabouts as being dangerous. Most responses reinforced Council plans already underway.
The public was asked through newspaper advertisements as part of the city’s Road Safety Strategy at the end of 2003 to
highlight which intersections they considered the most dangerous in Christchurch.
Overall, Christchurch residents found traffic signals and roundabouts on major arterial roads to be the most dangerous
intersections to use. Findings from the survey showed that , if these intersections were improved in some way, people
were prepared to sacrifice travel time to get through them safely.
The 20 most listed intersections attracted safety concerns over delays in traffic, being able to turn through traffic
signals, and concerns at the speed and volume of traffic moving through roundabouts. Inadequate visibility at some
roundabouts was also a problem.
Mr Cottam said the Council wanted to thank those who responded because their feedback was extremely valuable to Council
long-term plans for works on intersections.
Some intersections mentioned are already destined for upgrading in the next five years, others are noted by police for
targeted enforcement.
Intersections of most concern include the Deans Avenue-Riccarton Road, and Blenheim Road-Main South Road roundabouts.
Respondents said that at Riccarton Road, heavy traffic went through at speed without giving way, while the Blenheim
Road-Main South Road roundabout had too much fast-travelling traffic coming off too many feeder roads.
The next on the list was the traffic-light controlled intersection of Ilam Road-Middleton Road-Riccarton Road where the
strange angle at which the roads meet confuses cars turning right out of Middleton Road onto Riccarton Road or those
turning right out of Ilam Road onto Riccarton Road.
The Marshland Road-Queen Elizabeth II Drive roundabout had foliage in the centre that blocked drivers’ view of on-coming
traffic, and the Masham Road-Russley Road-Yaldhurst Road intersection had two-laned roads feeding into the intersection
from one side, then bottle-necking into one-lane traffic on the other side.
Mr Cottam said that some issues such as overgrown foliage could be addressed quickly, but others would take more time
and planning.
Leading Intersection Comments and Suggestions
Intersection Comment Suggestion
Deans Ave/ Riccarton Ave/ Riccarton Rd (93 replies) Heavy traffic travelling too fast not giving way Remove roundabout
and replace with traffic lights, this is long overdue
Blenheim Rd/ Main South Rd (92) Too much traffic going too fast through too many roads Traffic signals
Ilam Rd/ Middleton Rd/ Riccarton Rd (65) Ilam Rd and Middleton Rd are on angles to Riccarton Rd Creating dedicated right
turning lanes with their own light phase
Marshland Rd/ QEII Drive
(53) There’s too much foliage in the centre, unable to get clear views Pruning trees and shrubs in roundabout to improve
visibility
Masham Rd/ Russley Rd/ Yaldhurst Rd (48) Each approaching road has two lanes but exiting only has one lane Having two
marked lanes all the way around roundabout and exiting it
Carmen Rd/ Main South Rd/ Shands Rd (40) Difficult to turn right into Main South Rd Green arrows for right turns, esp.
into Main South Rd
Marshland Rd/ New Brighton Rd/ North Pde/ Shirley Rd (40) Not enough time to turn from New Brighton Rd to Marshlands Rd
Right turn arrows on all lights at this intersection
Greers Rd/ Harewood Rd (31) Traffic turning right at all four corners builds up and jumps the lights Putting a right
turning phase on the lights
Glandovey Rd/ Heaton St/ Rossall St (29) A busy intersection so people take chances turning right to get through Give
right turning traffic a green arrow
Main North Rd/ Northcote Rd/ QEII Drive (29) No right hand turn light from QEII Drive to Main North Rd An arrow at busy
times for traffic wanting to go towards Belfast
Ensors Rd/ Opawa Rd (28) Tall shrubs in roundabout block vision on the right Removing and lowering roundabout slopes
Farrington Ave/ Harewood Rd/ Highsted Rd (28) Confusion on who is turning, going straight ahead Traffic signals
Greers Rd/ Northcote Rd/ Sawyers Arms Rd (28) Difficult for cars turning right into Greers Rd off Sawyers Arms Rd
Installing a roundabout
Racecourse Rd/ Yaldhurst Rd
(28) Hard to get across from Racecourse Rd with double lanes both sides Needs traffic signals
Bridle Path Rd/ Ferry Rd/ Main Rd/ St Andrews Hill Rd (24) Meeting point of four roads at a bridge causing turning
difficulties Traffic signals
Curletts Rd/ Halswell Rd/ Hoon Hay Rd/ Lincoln Rd (22) Vehicles turning into Lincoln or Hoon Hay don’t take notice of
the red arrow Arrows for right turning traffic at all roads on the intersection
Breezes Rd/ Pages Rd (21) No through lanes on Breezes Rd More lanes on Breezes Rd
Aorangi Rd/ Wairakei Rd (20) Traffic, schools, shops in area making right hand turns difficult Traffic signals
Gloucester St/ Linwood Ave
(20) Difficult to turn right from Gloucester into Linwood from both sides Right hand green arrows added to traffic
lights
Marshland Rd/ Preston Rd (20) Cannot see other cars on the roundabout as planting is so high Cutting centre shrubs and
lowering trees on right hand corner
ENDS