Christchurch Northern Corridor gantry work around Waimakariri Bridge, SH1: southbound detours at night from Sunday, 6 September

From this weekend, the Christchurch Northern Corridor team will be installing gantries on SH1 around and near the Waimakariri Bridge, north of Christchurch. This will involve lane and full road closures at night, says Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency, through to October.

A gantry is a steel overhead support structure which will hold traffic signs.

“To install the gantries safely, we need to reduce traffic lanes or close both lanes in one direction for several nights. For one full night, we will need to close all motorway lanes in both directions,” says Colin MacKay, Waka Kotahi Portfolio Delivery Manager. 

There will be well signposted detours in place during any overnight closures.

The lane closures or diversions will be in place from 10pm till 5am the next day, over 18 nights (see timetable below). With lane reductions, lane closures and traffic diverted, traffic movements will be slower than usual, so please expect delays, says Mr MacKay.

On SH1 there will be seven gantries: two on the north side of the Waimakariri Bridge and five south. The new Christchurch Northern Corridor motorway will also have seven gantries in key locations. Several of the gantries will hold the new T2/carpool lane signs on the Christchurch Northern Corridor. 

“We first install poles on both sides of SH1 and then position the gantry on top. To do this safely, both southbound lanes going towards Christchurch will be closed at night on Sunday 6 September, Monday 7 September and Tuesday 8 September. Southbound traffic will be diverted via the old Main North Road Bridge over the Waimakariri River,” says Mr MacKay.

Gantry drawing, example of one of the 14 overhead structures to be installed on SH1 and the new Christchurch Northern Corridor motorway

Chaneys off-ramp

Chaneys off-ramp will be closed overnight Tuesday, 8 September.

One night with traffic diverted both directions

For one night, Wednesday 30 September, when the largest gantry is being installed, all motorway traffic, in both directions, will be diverted.

“The work is weather dependent and we hope to have it all completed well in time for the motorway opening just before Christmas,” says Mr MacKay. “Please reduce your speed in this area during all the work. We thank everyone for their cooperation and for being patient around our work sites and people to date.”

SH1 night time traffic impact overview

For more information please view the project updates on our website:

• www.nzta.govt.nz/cnc(external link)
• Christchurch Northern Corridor SH1 gantry installations newsletter [PDF, 1.3 MB]

Plan ahead for a safe, enjoyable journey. Keep up to date with:

• Traffic updates: journeys.nzta.govt.nz/traffic(external link)
• Facebook: facebook.com/NZTAsouthisland(external link)
• Twitter Canterbury/West Coast: twitter.com/WakaKotahiCWC(external link)
• Journey planner: journeys.nzta.govt.nz(external link)
• Phone: 0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 44 44 49)