Let's Talk About Southbrook Road Safety Improvements

We’re looking to improve pedestrian safety and traffic flow along Southbrook Road between Denchs Road and Torlesse Street by removing the kea crossing and installing traffic lights at the intersection of Southbrook Road and Torlesse and Coronation Streets.

Southbrook Road is the busiest road in Rangiora and is shared by resident, school, business and commuter traffic, with 26,000 vehicles travelling this road every day.

While there are a wide range of issues on Southbrook Road, we are currently focussed on the most urgent of these, including the safety of children, cycling, and access onto side streets as well as traffic flow.

The Council has been investigating options to try and address these issues.

Focusing on the immediate issue - safety

Lights here will replace the current kea crossing which is difficult to manage due to the traffic volumes, and also disruptive for commuters. They will also provide an opportunity for schools and residents to safely merge from Torlesse and Coronation Streets into Southbrook Road.

The traffic lights will be set up to provide a ‘green wave’ with the Southbrook Road and the Mitre 10/Pak’n’save lights so there is a flow of traffic through this area.

What’s happening on the side streets?

In addition, we’ve looked at how to ease traffic flow past the schools on Denchs Road and Marshall Street.

We are proposing to make Denchs Road and Marshall Street through to Torlesse Street one way to improve flow and allow for more on-street parking.

Residents in Buckleys Road also approached us with their concerns about through traffic, 'rat running' and speed on the street.

The Council is mindful that the traffic lights may encourage ‘rat-running’ and we are proposing adding traffic calming which would include a raised platform at the intersection with Southbelt and four speed humps along the street to discourage this and slow traffic down.

Drop-in session

Residents in Southbrook Road, Denchs Road, Marshall Street, Coronation Street and Buckleys Road are invited to come along to a drop in session to find out more:

• Monday 15 November 4.30pm – 7pm at Southbrook Community Sports Club Rooms, 129 Southbelt, Rangiora.

We’re working on a longer term strategy

The Council recognises that the lights will only address some of the issues with Southbrook Road. In addition to the short term actions, we are developing a longer term strategy for managing traffic flow, traffic safety, pedestrian safety, access to business and residents, public transport and cycling. This strategy may include constructing a Rangiora Eastern link to reduce traffic on Southbrook Road. We will seek community feedback at a later date on this.

We have a working party who are looking after this and includes Mayor Dan Gordon, Councillor Paul Williams, Chair of the Rangiora Ashley Community Board Jim Gerard and Council staff.

Tell us what you think

We welcome your feedback on the proposed changes to make sure we’re on the right track before it gets finalised. Let us know your thoughts before Thursday 25 November 2021.