Bid to improve traffic flow

Press, 3 February 1984, Page 5

Bid to improve traffic flow

A District Scheme variation designed to improve traffic movements in the Merivale business district was proposed by the Christchurch City Council’s townplanning committee yesterday.

The change, which would include a realignment of Office Road to join St Albans Street at the Papanui Road intersection, was supported by the Merivale Precinct Society last year.

Some vehicle movements near the Merivale Mall would be restricted under street changes intended.

The commercial zone

would be extended over all properties in the Merivale Mail’s block.

Cr M. J. Glubb said there were losses as well as benefits in the plan. Some residential properties would be trapped on an island between two traffic flows. Some local traffic movements would be affected for the benefit of the wider community, said the council’s traffic engineer, Mr M. L. Gadd. Cr Helen Garrett said the proposed changes would discourage the use of Office Road as a through street. Objectors would have their chance to criticise the plan at a later public hearing. “Merivale Mall is a higgledy-piggledy mess at the moment,” said Cr Geoff Stone. “Something has to be done.”

The new intersection of Office Road, Papanui Road, and St Albans Street would be controlled by traffic signals.