Extension to Christchurch tram allows patrons to circle the city
The extension to Christchurch's tram has finally been completed and was opened to the public on Thursday.
Trams now continue travelling from the corner of Manchester St along High St, up Tuam St and turning into Poplar St before heading back down Lichfield St.
Christchurch City Council head of transport and waste management Lynette Ellis said the project had "really added to the special character of High St".
A new tram stop and shelter had also been installed at the intersection of Tuam and High
streets intersection
The life-sized bronze corgis that were installed in High St
in 2003 to mark the Queen’s golden jubilee have been moved to sit
beside the new shelter.
Jewel Lewis, 78, made the most of her time hunkering down at home during Covid to create a special tribute to Christchurch's tram.
"Forty years ago, while driving down the long drive into the Canterbury Sun Club at Rolleston, I was always taken with an old tram sitting in a paddock and used as a shed. Our Pop was particularly fond of it as he used to drive the same tram on the Sumner route many years before," she said.
"It has since been on my bucket list to replicate this in miniature and I have finally done so. I researched it, drew up all the plans ... and sent it through to my 85-year-old friend who has a laser cutter in his back shed."
She then made kits for her miniaturist-loving friends. The photos below show one tram in pristine form "as a lady shed snug" and one in "bashed form where it turns into an old decrepit shed".
Poll: Is the increase in disability parking fines fair?
In October, the fine for parking in a designated mobility car park without a permit has jumped from $150 to $750—a 400% increase!
The goal is to keep these spaces open for those who truly need them. Do you think this big increase in the fine is fair? Share your thoughts below.
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89.1% Yes, it's fair
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10.2% No, it's unreasonable
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0.7% Other - I'll share below
Cyclists forced to use ‘more dangerous’ crossing if cycleway closed
Closing a Christchurch cycleway to avoid an unsafe rail crossing will lead cyclists across an even “more dangerous” crossing, cycling advocates say.
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has weighed in on the issue, calling the move to shut a 1.5km section of the Heathcote Expressway for up to two years, “illogical”. He has asked KiwiRail to explain.
KiwiRail is demanding Christchurch City Council close part of the expressway until $6.5 million worth of safety improvements can be made to the Scruttons Rd rail crossing.
It said the “unsafe” crossing posed the risk of death or serious injury once every thousand years.
What do you do think? Read the full story by reporters Sinead Gill and Tina Law here and tell us what you think in the comments. (A subscription is required, but you can see two free articles a month).
House fire causing road closures
Pages Road is closed this afternoon from Breezes Road, this is due to a house that has caught fire in the area.
Coastal Ward Community Board member, Alex Hewison, shared the closure on a local Facebook page.
Fire and Emergency are at the scene but further details have not been shared at this stage.
Avoid the area where possible.