Christchurch Bus Interchange
{{short description|Bus station in Christchurch, New Zealand}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=November 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}
File:Bus Interchange, Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand.jpg
The Christchurch Bus Interchange is the bus station in the Christchurch Central City in New Zealand. Built as one of the 17 anchor projects identified in the Christchurch Central Recovery Plan, it opened in May 2015 after the previous Bus Exchange had been damaged in the 2011 Christchurch earthquake.
History
Historically, Cathedral Square was the main facility for public transport users in central Christchurch.{{cite book |last=Rice |first=Geoffrey |author-link=Geoffrey Rice |year=2014 |title=Victoria Square: Cradle of Christchurch |url=https://archive.org/details/rice-victoria |location=Christchurch |publisher=Canterbury University Press |isbn=978-1927145586 |page=218}} That changed when the Bus Exchange opened in November 2000 in Lichfield Street, with most bus routes using an indoor facility off Lichfield Street with direct pedestrian access in City Mall. The building that housed the Bus Exchange was damaged in the 2011 Christchurch earthquake and was later demolished.{{cite news |date=4 August 2011 |title=Bus Exchange among nearly 600 condemned buildings |work=Stuff |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/5389665/Bus-Exchange-among-nearly-600-condemned-buildings |access-date=30 July 2020}} From October 2011, a temporary station—Central Station—was established in a block further west. This block was surrounded by Lichfield, Colombo, Tuam, and Durham streets, and the facility was expected to be in use for "up to two years".{{cite news |last1=Mathewson |first1=Nicole |date=17 October 2011 |title=Temporary hub will 'restore vibrancy' to city |page=A3 |work=Stuff |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/christchurch-earthquake-2011/5794445/Temporary-hub-will-restore-vibrancy |url-status=live |access-date=15 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924172536/http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/christchurch-earthquake-2011/5794445/Temporary-hub-will-restore-vibrancy |archive-date=24 September 2015}}
The Christchurch Central Recovery Plan, which had the Bus Interchange as one of its 17 anchor projects for the central city's earthquake recovery, was published in July 2012. It set an indicative start date of 2012 and completion by June 2014.{{sfn|CERA|2014|pages=46, 93}} Christchurch City Council's District Plan was amended and two-thirds of the block surrounded by Lichfield, Manchester, Tuam, and Colombo streets designated for the Bus Interchange. The most significant building that had to be demolished to make way for the proposed Bus Interchange was Miller's Department Store, better known for its subsequent use from 1980 to 2010 as the head office of Christchurch City Council.{{cite web |title=Millers building |url= https://canterburystories.nz/exhibitions/places-christchurch-buildings/millers-building |publisher=Christchurch City Libraries |access-date=30 July 2020}}
Construction
Construction of the Bus Interchange started in July 2014, after the projected completion date for the building.{{cite news |title=Construction of bus interchange to start |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/248040/construction-of-bus-interchange-to-start |access-date=30 July 2020 |work=Radio New Zealand |date=24 June 2014 |archive-date=24 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210724072020/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/248040/construction-of-bus-interchange-to-start |url-status=live }} The recovery plan identified ECan (Environment Canterbury, the regional council), CCC (Christchurch City Council), CERA (Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority), NZTA (NZ Transport Agency), and the private sector as project partners,{{sfn|CERA|2014|p=93}} but the project was carried out by CERA.{{cite web |title=Bus Interchange |url=https://www.otakaroltd.co.nz/anchor-projects/bus-interchange/ |publisher=Ōtākaro |access-date=30 July 2020 |archive-date=12 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812094651/https://www.otakaroltd.co.nz/anchor-projects/bus-interchange/ |url-status=live }} Central Station was in use until 25 May 2015, when Christchurch's new $53 million Bus Interchange building opened,{{Cite news | first=Cecile | last=Meier | title=Christchurch bus interchange opens | date=25 May 2015 | url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/68813220/christchurchs-53-million-bus-interchange-opens | work=The Press | access-date=30 July 2020 | archive-date=24 September 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924172009/http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/68813220/christchurchs-53-million-bus-interchange-opens | url-status=live }} with half of the 16 bays operational. On 20 August, the building was physically completed and further opened to the public, including bike parking and more seating. On 8 October, the remaining bays opened. Later retailers took spaces.{{Cite web |url= http://www.metroinfo.co.nz/news/Pages/Bus-Interchange.aspx |title=Your new Bus Interchange |website=www.metroinfo.co.nz |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180925070249/http://www.metroinfo.co.nz/news/Pages/Bus-Interchange.aspx |archive-date=25 September 2018}}
{{Gallery
| title = Bus Interchange in Christchurch
| align = center
| height =
| width =
| captionstyle =
| File:Chch recovery planning map (southern designations).jpg
| alt1=planning map
| Christchurch District Plan recovery planning map showing designations in the southern part of the central city, with land for the Bus Interchange marked as number 5
| File:Civic Offices, Tuam Street 005.jpg
| alt2=view of a building demolition
| Demolition of the former civic offices in May 2014
| File:Bus Interchange 754.JPG
| alt3=View of construction work
| Work on the foundation in September 2014
| File:Bus Interchange, Christchurch 22.jpg
| alt4=interior view of a bus station
| Interior
}}
Notes
{{Reflist}}
References
- {{cite book |ref={{sfnref|CERA|2014}} |url= https://ceraarchive.dpmc.govt.nz/sites/default/files/Documents/christchurch-central-recovery-plan-march-2014.pdf |title=Christchurch Central Recovery Plan: Te Mahere 'Maraka Ōtautahi' |location=Christchurch |publisher=Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority |date=March 2014 |isbn=978-0-478-39719-2}}
{{Christchurch earthquakes}}
{{Bus transport in New Zealand}}
{{coord|region:NZ-CAN_type:landmark|display=title}}
Category:Christchurch Central Recovery Plan
Category:Christchurch Central City
Category:2015 establishments in New Zealand