As students have headed back to school across the region, Marlborough Roads is progressing changes to a cycle lane near a handful of local Blenheim education and early childhood care providers.

Marlborough Roads System Manager Wayne Oldfield said the Eltham Road cycle lane was created in 2017 to separate cyclists, vehicles and pedestrians along the busy street, next to Whitney Street School and Blenheim Playcentre. The road is also a popular transit route for Bohally Intermediate and Marlborough Girls’ College students.

“It’s timely to review the effectiveness of the cycle lane and Council has tasked Marlborough Roads to look at an option which will better meet the community’s and cyclists needs,” Mr Oldfield said.

“There have been mixed views from cyclists using it. We have also received community concerns about the loss of some parking and property access since it was established, although the original aim was to retain as much parking as practicable.

“The cycle lane was designed to make cycling to school safer for pupils attending the primary school and to provide a better cycling environment for students and the public between the Taylor River Shared Pathway and Eltham Road, Maxwell and Beaver Road. School students do cycle along Eltham Road so we want to ensure a safe route is available for them.

“We also want to encourage the public to cycle the Taylor River Reserve shared pathway as this is a great way to get off the busy streets,” Mr Oldfield said.

The alterations will create an in-road cycleway retaining some elements of the existing cycle lane. The raised concrete separators will be removed and the road reinstated on the eastern side.

“A painted cycle lane will be created intermittently along Eltham Road in both directions which is in-keeping with other cycle lanes across Marlborough. We are also looking at returning roadside parking, with localised no parking lines around the school crossing and at Carr Street, and improvements around the zebra crossing.”

The cycle lane was funded through New Zealand Transport Agency’s Urban Cycleway Programme (UCP). Consultation was undertaken at the time including meetings with Whitney Street School and a public drop-in session.

The alterations will be funded within Marlborough Roads’ current budget and work could get underway as early as this Easter once designs are confirmed and a contractor appointed.

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