Innovating Streets for People – Ferry Road Cycle Connection

Purpose

Ferry Road cycle connection creates a safer street environment between the existing cycle path on St Asaph Street and the east end of Ferry Road using a new type of cycleway design.

Overview

Isaac Construction were approach by CCC to collaborate on this exciting project. This is a pilot fund project, which is 90% funded by Waka Kotahi – NZTA and aims to trial temporary, low cost initiatives to improve the safety and liveability of our streets, before committing Council and the community to permanent more expensive solutions. This project involves working with key stakeholders and the community to co-design and co-deliver the project.

Other work in the scope included a raised bus island with lighted seats, upgraded traffic signals, Kerb and channel upgrades and sump lid replacement, footpath contrustion, removal of existing line marking, installing new line marking and landscaping.

For further information on the Innovating Streets for People Pilot Fund, please see https://www.nzta.govt.nz/roads-and-rail/innovating-streets/about/pilot-fund/

Challenges

Painting

Street painting had only been used in Christchurch once before the Ferry Road project, and Isaac contracted Spraymarks, the most experienced road marker, for the street paint portion.

The paint was supplied by Resene but had never been used in this environment, so we needed to confirm that the product was suitable for the job. At the pre-construction phase, the designer and painting sub-contractor were involved in carrying out paint sample testing. Each type of paint in the proposed design was trialled in a car park, and the designer confirmed the colour patterns were correct.

Most of the street painting was done on an old asphalt surface, which was cracked and damaged in a number of places. This would potentially impact the paint colour being able to show up as well as expected. However, after a number of trials and errors, the standard procedure for painting was confirmed. Water blasting and cleaning were required as the first step, followed by applying a thick layer of prime coat and two layers of topcoat.

Ground Condition

Due to the age of the existing pavement, the structure of the pavement was unknown. It was thought that a thick layer of concrete railway tracks could be part of the existing structure. Concrete layer removal involves a high cost.

It was helpful that a site investigation for future project design work happened a week before physical work started. The same crews were used to save establishment costs, and data from the site investigation provided details of the existing pavement. This enabled us to work with the designer to verify design assumptions and confirm construction methodologies to minimise concrete layer removal.

Geometric design for the raised platform

The existing raised platform at Ferry Road and St Asaph St was to be modified. It had an odd shape consisting of two traffic islands and a raised crossing for cyclists and pedestrians. Due to a lack of survey data and relevant design details, the project manager and designer from both Christchurch City Council and Isaac had to figure out the geometric design on site. They created a design for a ramp, with levels matched into the existing strangely shaped platform, which would bring pedestrians, vehicles, and cyclists onto the platform safely. Excellent communication and a quick turnaround time were achieved with collaboration between the parties.

Testimonials

Clare Piper – Christchurch City Council

Christchurch City Council obtained funding from Waka Kotahi Innovating Streets for People Pilot Fund to

deliver and implement a tactical urbanism project for Ferry Road – known as the Ferry Road Cycle Connection Project. This required the project to be designed and implemented within 12 months.

Isaac Construction was directly appointed for the implementation of the project based on their willingness to tackle this innovative and creative project within the strict timeframes.

From the first initial briefing on the project Isaac Construction committed to meet the high expectations set in the video documentation of the implementation process, the need to incorporate the operational needs of the various stakeholders in the area, and to make it the best tactical urbanism project for Christchurch – if not New Zealand.

They took on board the desire to trial and test NZ first products in the road environment – namely the Wave Delineator and LED Limbo Seats – and set about to find the best way to install and make them robust for the public realm.

Isaac Construction completed the project in March 2021, and it was officially opened by the Minister of Transport, Michael Wood in May 2021 with much fanfare and celebration.