Traffic and trees

File under: waterfront, urbanism, Wellington

The Greening the Quays project has started. The diggers were out today creating a 2-metre median strip along Jervois Quay, to make room for a row of "Māori Princess" pohutukawa trees (currently corralled at Taranaki St Wharf) that will stretch initially from Cable St to Johnston St, and eventually to Bunny St. The specific variety was chosen because it grows tall and straight, and thus won't spread out and interfere with traffic.

This is supposed to turn the Quays into a "boulevard" rather than a mini-motorway. The trees will certainly make the road look nicer, but there will be the same number of lanes and the same amount of traffic, so it's unlikely to do much to make the waterfront more accessible to pedestrians. There are still vague plans to reduce the quays from 6 lanes to 4 once the "bypass" is complete, but they are subject to a review of traffic levels. If the "bypass" fails to deliver the promised reductions in waterfront traffic (and I have my doubts), we will still be stuck with a 6-lane aterial road between the city and the harbour. I suppose it will look pretty at Christmas, though.