Tram resumes visits to New Regent Street

This morning, a tram began using an alternative route from New Regent Street along Worcester Boulevard to the Arts Centre after cordons were last week placed around five buildings on New Regent Street.

This is in addition to trams travelling the usual Cashel Loop through Cathedral Square, Oxford Terrace, Cashel and High streets and back to Cathedral Square.

The Council has approved the traffic management plan that allows the trams to operate along the southern end of New Regent Street and along Worcester Boulevard to the stop outside the Arts Centre and back, using the same track in both directions. Please refer to the attached map.

To allow this route, the Council has approved vehicles being restricted to travelling one-way westward along Worcester Boulevard from Colombo Street to Cambridge Terrace. Vehicles will only be able to travel east one-way along Cathedral Square from Colombo to Worcester Street.

Michael Esposito, Managing Director of tram operator Welcome Aboard, says tickets will be valid for both routes with passengers able to transfer at the Cathedral Square stop. This is where there are two tracks allowing the trams to pass. This will be managed by the tram operators.

"We have been working closely with the Council to find an interim solution so we can get passengers to New Regent Street.

"However, it's important not just for us, but the businesses along New Regent Street and at Cathedral Junction as well as the city, to get people into these popular areas."

Meanwhile, Christchurch City Council Consenting and Compliance General Manager Peter Sparrow says staff helped the engineers for the owner of the New Regent Street properties with access to the buildings so they could do their evaluation.

"They are now finished the on-site part of their evaluation and, while they have further work to do assessing the damage and repair options, we are hopeful that by the end of the week they will be able to present us with a solution to the immediate risk the buildings pose."

Five properties on New Regent Street have been classified as dangerous and earthquake prone after suffering damage in the 14 February 2016 earthquake.

The engineers engaged by the owner are experienced in dealing with heritage buildings.

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