We’ve heard the concerns of local residents and we have a plan to make it safer to walk and cycle along Radcliffe Road.

We plan to:

• install a footpath from the railway line to the Christchurch Northern Corridor shared path, as well as up Blakes Road
• make safety improvements to the intersection with Blakes Road
• upgrade the rail crossing.

We’ll be working closely with KiwiRail on the rail crossing upgrade, which will guide the timing of this work. There may be opportunities to phase the improvements to provide earlier benefits to the community, such as separating the footpath work from the rail crossing upgrade. At the earliest, construction may be able to commence next summer.

Regular updates will be provided throughout this project so residents and businesses know how it is progressing. Click the + Follow button at the top of this page to be kept informed.

Design details:

• The proposed path along the eastern side of Blakes Road to connect with the Northern Corridor will be 2-2.5m wide. The proposed path along the southern side of Radcliffe Road will be 2.5m wide.
• The proposed traffic island at the end of Blakes Road will be approximately 12m long. It is intended to deter traffic from approaching Blakes Road at speed and prevent people from cutting the corner. A painted median and right-turn bay on Radcliffe Road will also make it safer for right-turning vehicles.
• The proposed pedestrian refuge island on Radcliffe Road will be approximately 12m long. It is expected to be used by people travelling from Spring Grove towards the Northwood Supa Centa, and by people travelling along the Northern Corridor shared path.
• Improvements will be made to the drainage around the intersection, to address the ponding issues that occur.

Design details:

• The proposed path on the southern side of Radcliffe Road will extend as far as the rail crossing.
• The proposed crossing, and the approaches to the crossing, will be designed in accordance with the Level Crossing Risk Assessment Guidance and discussions with KiwiRail.
• The footpath on the Northwood side of the crossing will be completed separately, as part of the Ryman development.

Alternative rail crossing

We know the community’s preferred option is a rail crossing at Thompsons Road. KiwiRail requirements mean this would need to be an overbridge, which has an estimated cost of $7-10 million. The crossing at Radcliffe Road is estimated to cost around $5-6 million.

There is funding available for the rail crossing upgrade at Radcliffe Road, but not for a crossing at Thompsons Road. We're focusing on Radcliffe Road as we'll be able to deliver the project more quickly and with more certainty than a crossing elsewhere.