As part of the approval process for the CNC, the Environment Court issued a Notice of Requirement (NoR) to the Council.

It set out the following legal obligations. Christchurch City Council must:

1. Mitigate the traffic effects from the CNC
2. Appoint an independent expert (qualified traffic engineer)
3. Engage with specific stakeholders regarding the recommendations
4. Carry out ongoing traffic monitoring

In addition to the previous obligations, the NoR outlines that if traffic increases more than 30% on neighbouring streets surrounding Cranford Street, we’re required to introduce interventions. These need to either improve efficiency on arterial routes or calm traffic by using devices to manage vehicles taking shortcuts through side streets.

We’re proposing to introduce a northbound peak-hour clearway on Cranford Street, between Berwick Street and Westminster Street.

This will help to address safety concerns raised by the local community about the signalised crossing by English Park. Two traffic lanes currently merge after the crossing, causing driver distraction and orange and red light running.

The peak-hour clearway will also improve traffic efficiency and allow for additional on-street car parks.

• Safety: Removing the quick merge after the English Park crossing will reduce confusion and increase driver attention, as drivers will have more time to react to the crossing without being distracted by the need to merge, making it safer for everyone.

• Efficiency: Two lanes of northbound traffic will be able to flow continuously from Berwick Street to Westminster Street during the evening peak (4–6pm, weekdays).
• Parking: An additional eight on-street car parks would be added to the two (P60) that are currently on the west side of this section of road. The ten P60 car parks would be available for use outside of the evening peak.

We’re proposing to install a high-friction, coloured road surfacing at the approaches to the signalised pedestrian crossing by English Park.

This, in addition to the peak-hour clearway, will help to make the crossing safer.

• Alertness: The coloured road surfacing will increase driver alertness and the visibility of the crossing. This will encourage drivers to slow down, check the traffic signals, and either stop or continue, while keeping a lookout for pedestrians.
• Braking distance: If a driver needs to brake suddenly to avoid a collision, the high-friction surface will shorten the braking distance, which may prevent a crash or reduce the impact.

We’re proposing to install high-friction, coloured road surfacing on all of the intersection approaches at the Westminster/Cranford Street intersection.

This will help to address concerns about safety raised by local schools, which is caused by drivers running red lights and travelling at unsafe speeds.

• Alertness: This change will increase driver alertness at the intersection and the visibility of the crossing, reminding them of the need to take caution. This will encourage drivers to slow down, check the traffic signals and watch for pedestrians and cyclists.
• Braking distance: If a driver needs to brake suddenly to avoid a collision, the high-friction surface will shorten the braking distance, which may prevent a crash or reduce the impact.

We’re also proposing to upgrade the southbound ‘no right turn’ signage at the Westminster/Cranford intersection to electronic signage. The sign would light up when enforced.

The turning ban is a mitigation to prevent morning commuter traffic from shortcutting through side streets.

• Improved visibility: The electronic signage will improve the visibility of the right turn ban for vehicles travelling southbound on Cranford Street during morning peak hours (7–9am). By improving drivers’ awareness of the restriction, the new signage will help to reduce confusion.

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Could red light cameras be installed at the Westminster Street / Cranford Street intersection?

The management and enforcement of red-light cameras is transferring from the New Zealand Police to NZTA Waka Kotahi, who have better capacity to enforce them. This means we may be able to consider installing cameras at a later stage on the Westminster/Cranford intersection to address dangerous driving behaviour.

Currently, southbound traffic exiting the Innes/Cranford intersection merges into one lane before the peak-hour bus lane begins. Across all options, we’re proposing to extend the two traffic lanes further south, to meet the peak-hour lane.

This change would improve efficiency on Cranford Street, helping to keep traffic on the arterial route.

• For the bus lane and T2 lane options, the peak-hour lane would begin south of the Malvern/Cranford intersection. This would allow two traffic lanes to flow efficiently through the intersection. Vehicles not permitted to use the peak-hour lane can then merge along an extended merging zone.
• For the clearway option, two traffic lanes would flow continuously from the CNC to south of Berwick Street.

Due to the extended length of the peak-hour lanes, six P60 car parks will be added north of the Westminster/Cranford intersection and eight P60 car park spaces will be added south of the intersection.