SCIRT traffic update: City bridge repair leads to temporary road access to Botanic Gardens carpark

http://strongerchristchurch.govt.nz/article/city-bridge-repair-leads-to-temporary-road-access-to-botanic-gardens-car-park

SCIRT’s McConnell Dowell team starts work on Wednesday morning, 22 April, upgrading an existing Hagley Park roadway as a temporary accessway into the Armagh St/ Botanic Gardens carpark.

Currently, the road is used by Parks Unit staff as part of their work. To enable its use by several hundred vehicles daily, the roadway is being widened by a metre and in some places passing bays are being created.

The temporary road will have a 10 kph speed limit and will be in place for 24 weeks while the Armagh St bridge leading into Hagley Park and the car park is repaired.* The bridge will remain open to pedestrians and cyclists throughout.

Repairs on the bridge, with stonemasonry work under the brick arched structure and dewatering around the work site in the Avon River/ Otakaro, will not start until 4 May. At that point, the temporary road access to the Botanic Gardens car park will be in place off Riccarton Ave beyond the existing carpark on that side of Hagley Park, near the tennis courts. The temporary road will loop around the croquet grounds and into the west side of the carpark. No trees are being trimmed.

The 300-space carpark, which allows free parking for up to three hours, is essential for visitors to Hagley Park, the Botanic Gardens and the historic Arts Centre area, said Ross Herrett, Christchurch City Council /SCIRT client liaison manager.

“Thousands of people enjoy the amenities in this area every week.

“At the end of the bridge repair, the whole area will go back to how it is now. Safety considerations and signs reminding drivers to give way to pedestrians and cyclists are being built into the design and traffic management of the temporary road.”

Chicanes, or barriers, will be in place to slow down traffic where the shared cycling/walking pathway crosses into and across the temporary road.

All park users are encouraged to take care in this area while the road is being built this week and in coming weeks. There is a separate footpath as well as the shared sealed roadway in the area leading towards the croquet lawns and Riccarton Ave.

SCIRT’s McConnell Dowell team will be monitoring the road for traffic issues to ensure it is being used safely and that traffic management is protecting people using the park.

ENDS

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