Plan aims to lure cars from route

Press, 9 December 1982, Page 6

Plan aims to lure cars from route

Changes to Linwood Avenue that would have a big effect on eastern Christchurch traffic patterns were proposed yesterday by the Citv Council’s works and traffic committee.. Councillors recommended approval of a plan that would lure traffic away from the Avonside Drive-Wood ham Road route — where the council is attempting to lift an expressway designation — and improve problem intersections on Linwood Avenue and Gloucester Street and Worcester Street. A public meeting will be called so that local residents can discuss the plan. The City Council has said that greater use of alternative roads, away from Avonside Drive, should be en-

couraged. Under the traffic engineering scheme, Linwood Avenue would be widened to four lanes, with a median strip, between Worcester Street and Gloucester Street. A roundabout and approach islands would be built at the Gloucester Street intersection. Some land would be required from three properties on the southern corner and one on the northern corner.

Widening of Linwood Avenue would require a removal of roadside trees. The Traffic Engineer, Mr M. L. Gadd, said that the trees could be replaced by planting in the median strip and on the sides of the widened street.

A widened Linwood

Avenue would take present traffic pressure off Worcester Street and encourage the use of Gloucester Street. At the Worcester Street intersection, traffic movements would be restricted byislands and kerb changes. Traffic would no longer be able to travel direct across Linwood Avenue. Where Olliviers Road meets Worcester Street at the intersection, special paving and roadway narrowing would discourage the use of Olliviers Road as a through street. It would still be open to any traffic that wanted to use it. A Transport Board bus route that uses the Worcester Street intersection would have to be shifted if the planned changes went ahead.