Two-lane plan accepted for Cranmer Square

Press, 20 October 1987, Page 7

Two-lane plan accepted for Cranmer Square

Christchurch City councillors last evening opted for two lanes of traffic travelling north into Cranmer Square from Montreal Street. The two-lane design for the corner was rejected by the works and traffic committee earlier this month in favour of investigation of a design allowing three lanes. This would allow one lane solely for right-turning traffic, said Cr Maurice Carter. However, a sub-commit-tee appointed to consider a three-lane alternative reverted to the original two-lane design. Three lanes would reduce the radii of the turning curves on the corner and reduce comfortable speeds. The intersection would be enlarged, reducing the efficiency jgf the Kfflc signals. W foot-

path width near the Windsor Hotel would be reduced. The reduced lane width and tighter curves would lead to problems with the mix of cycles and heavy vehicles. The sub-committee said the two-lane design was adequate for the present traffic flows and would be an improvement on the present flow. Traffic growth might make three lanes necessary in the future. This would mean encroaching on Cranmer Square at the north end and the best alternative might be using reserve land at the south end also. The council endorsed its sub-committee’s findings and accepted a tender of $36,486 for the work from Swarbrick. Contractors, Ltd. ft