Board approves hospital car-parks

Press, 26 July 1984, Page 6

Board approves hospital car-parks

The Canterbury Hospital Board’s works committee has approved recommendations which allow for the provision of about 200 new car-parks near Christchurch Hospital. The plans show the proposed widening of Riccarton Avenue beside the hospital, forming a lay-by along the front of the hospital for buses, taxis, and private cars to set down patients. According to the plans the Riccarton Avenue entrance to the hospital would be

moved as far north as possible and a median strip in the middle of the avenue would allow a waiting, turning lane into the hospital. The chairman of the board, Mr Tom Grigg, said yesterday that the changes had been discussed with traffic engineers of the Christchurch City Council. The hospital entrance would lead on to an internal roadway which led along the front of the hospital for ambulances and some pickup, set down, and short

term parking. The existing entrance to the Hagley nurses’ home would be retained, but would only be used by occupants of the building. As well as an additional 33 car parks on the hospital site, there would be about 180 to 200 new car parks at the hospital end of St Asaph Street. Mr Grigg said that parking would be allocated by the most urgent need, radiating out from the hospital, so that certain patients and visitors who had a special case for parking could be allocated parks on site. The stage three redevelopment is expected to be completed by 1991 and the parking developments would be put in towards that date.