Consultation on the Shirley intersection improvements has now closed. People were able to provide feedback from 8 November to 6 December 2023.

Shirley Road / Marshland Road / New Brighton Road / North Parade intersection

We received submissions from 5 recognised organisations, 1 local business, and 173 individuals. You can read their feedback and find out how this influenced the community boards' decision.

Shirley Road / Hills Road / Warrington Street intersection

We recieved submissions from 5 recognised organisations, 3 local businesses, and 194 individuals. You can read their feedback and find out how this influenced the Community Board decision.

Work on this project will start mid-2024.

Way safer for everyone

No one expects a crash, but people make mistakes, including those who are careful and responsible drivers, and these mistakes shouldn't cost anyone their lives.

You're more likely to have a crash at an intersection than any other part of the road, regardless of whether you're driving, walking, or cycling. This means we need to slow traffic down, as lower speeds improve survival rates, reduce serious harm to everyone and will make people feel safer using the intersection. This intersection is frequently used by vulnerable road users, including children, the elderly and those with visual or mobility challenges, making safety an even higher priority.

In the past 5 years there have been 21 crashes at the Shirley Road / Hills Road / Warrington Street intersection. Of these, 7 resulted in injury and some involved vulnerable road users. A large number of pedestrians use this area to get to nearby local shops, Shirley Primary School, Shirley Reserve and Pump Track, and preschools.

Shirley Road / Marshland Road / New Brighton / North Parade intersection has had 11 crashes in the same 5 year period. 5 of these caused injuries, 2 involving vulnerable users. Many pedestrians use this area to reach The Palms Shopping Centre and Shirley Intermediate School.

Both intersections rank in the top 1% for crash risk among Christchurch District intersections, out of over 5700 intersections citywide under Council control.

Safer speeds are being achieved at the Lincoln Road / Barrington Street / Whiteleigh Avenue intersection in Christchurch where Council installed a platform similar to what is proposed at Shirley Road /Hills Road /Warrington Street intersection. Since the implementation of the platform there have been no reported crashes in the Crash Analysis System.

What we're planning

The planned changes will make these intersections safer for everyone travelling through the area, including those getting to and from The Palms Shopping Centre, schools, early childhood centres and shops.

Changes to the Shirley Road / Marshland Road / New Brighton Road / North Parade intersection include:

• Raised safe speed platforms on all approaches to the intersection to encourage drivers to travel at a safer speed, providing people more time to react and avoid a crash. At lower speeds, there is also a better chance of people surviving a crash.
• An extended traffic island on the New Brighton Road approach to the intersection to restrict vehicles from turning right into The Palms.
• Removal of the slip lane on the corner of Shirley Road and Marshland Road so pedestrians no longer need to use the zebra pedestrian crossing over the slip lane to reach the safer signalised crossing.

Changes to the Shirley Road / Hills Road / Warrington Street intersection include:

• A raised safe speed platform across the intersection to encourage drivers to travel at a safer speed, providing people more time to react and avoid a crash. At lower speeds, there is also a better chance of people surviving a crash.
  
• Changes to the slip lane from Hills Road to Shirley Road, including a narrower exit, raised zebra pedestrian crossing and new stop sign.
• A raised zebra pedestrian crossing on the slip lane from Shirley Road to Hills Road to increase the visibility of pedestrians.

Community board decision

Once the public feedback period closes on 6 December 2023, we will analyse the feedback, which will be considered by the relevant community boards as part of a staff report.

Waitai Coastal-Burwood-Linwood and Waipapa Papanui-Innes-Central Community Boards will make a joint decision on the Shirley Road / Marshland Road / New Brighton Road / North Parade intersection.

Waipapa Papanui-Innes-Central Community Board will make the decision on the Shirley Road / Hills Road / Warrington Street intersection.

Next steps

We are also introducing some changes to the traffic lights at these intersections, including:

• Adding green arrows for traffic turning from the north and the south at the Shirley Road / Marshland Road / New Brighton Road / North Parade intersection.
• Signal phasing adjustments at the Shirley Road / Hills Road / Warrington intersection, including a new green arrow for people turning from Hills Road onto Warrington Street.

You may see us working on this early next year when traffic is lighter in the summer holidays.