Christchurch residents are being invited to have their say on proposed safety upgrades at two key intersections along Moorhouse Avenue — one of the city’s busiest corridors for vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists.
Public consultation has opened on Christchurch City Council’s plan to upgrade the intersections at Moorhouse Avenue with Gasson and Madras Streets, and with Barbadoes Street and Waltham Road.
The proposed changes aim to improve safety and prepare the area for increased traffic, including future events at the new multi-use arena opening in 2026.
Around 24,000 vehicles pass through Moorhouse Avenue each day.
It also serves as a crucial route for students walking or cycling to and from Ara Institute and for commuters accessing the central city.
Among the proposed changes at the Moorhouse-Gasson-Madras intersection are:
•A new staggered pedestrian crossing (‘green man’) on the east side of the intersection, with a waiting area in the raised central median.
•The removal of the north-west slip lane from Moorhouse Avenue onto Madras Street, replaced by a left-turn lane controlled by traffic lights.
•Speed humps and priority pedestrian crossings on slip lanes from Gasson Street onto Moorhouse Avenue and vice versa.
•Repainting of road markings, including cycle lanes.
For the Moorhouse-Barbadoes-Waltham intersection, plans include:
•A new staggered pedestrian crossing on the east side of the intersection with a median waiting area.
•A speed hump and priority crossing on the slip lane from Moorhouse Avenue onto Waltham Road.
•Updated road markings, including refreshed cycle lanes.
Transport Operations Manager Stephen Wright said the upgrades were part of a broader effort to futureproof city infrastructure and improve safety for all road users.
“We’re taking a look at our infrastructure now to make sure it can accommodate the increased movement of people and vehicles in the future,” Wright said.
“In addition to making the intersections safer for Ara students and anyone else moving around this busy part of town, we also expect large numbers to pass through these intersections to attend events at the new stadium when it opens in April 2026.”
Transport Operations Manager Stephen Wright
Wright also responded to growing concerns from residents who believe the Council is intentionally slowing traffic across the city through redesigned intersections and reduced speed limits. Asked who is pushing these changes and under what mandate, Wright said:
“Technical staff undertake investigations at sites where safety has been raised as a concern, or there is a history of crashes at a site. Targeted improvements are then considered and proposed for community engagement.”
He told chrislynchmedia.com current proposals do not include “safe speed platforms” on the main road but do include speed humps on the slip lanes.
“The speed humps are provided in advance of the priority pedestrian crossings on the slip lanes only.
“NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi guidance states that slip lanes increase the exposure risk to serious injuries and encourage drivers not to slow down when approaching the intersection; they increase the crossing distance and time for people walking and wheeling; and limit the volume capacity of people waiting to cross.”
“The guidance also states that any crossing treatment should incorporate a raised platform to reduce vehicle speeds. At these locations it would be difficult to achieve raised platforms, therefore speed humps in advance of the crossings are proposed instead.”
Wright said that Council staff do not have the authority to make final decisions on changes. “These plans are out for consultation and a report will be presented to the Council at a later date for a decision. Staff do not have delegation to make changes to the roadway.”
Responding to wider concerns that the Council is intentionally slowing the city’s entire transport network, Wright said the focus is on improving safety — not slowing traffic for its own sake.
“The Council has a Level of Service (LoS) to reduce the number of deaths or serious injuries from all crashes by 40% in 2030. This is also a goal in the Road Safety Action Plan, which is a collaborative plan between Christchurch City Council, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, ACC, FENZ and New Zealand Police.”
“Platforms and humps are used at targeted sites where required, to reduce the likelihood and severity of crashes, particularly at locations with high numbers of vulnerable road users such as people walking, cycling and scooting.”
