An arterial, a bypass, a bridge or a trench are among the options being considered by the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to improve state highways around Christchurch as part of the Government’s roads of national significance programme.
An arterial, a bypass, a bridge or a trench are among the options being considered by the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to improve state highways around Christchurch as part of the Government’s roads of national significance programme.
Consultations on the proposed Western Belfast Bypass, Northern Arterial and upgrading of the Memorial Avenue/Russley Road intersection have opened with newsletters and feedback forms distributed to residents and stakeholders and available on the NZTA website www.nzta.govt.nz.
The Christchurch roads of national significance were launched by the Minister of Transport Stephen Joyce in January. The programme includes improvements to the Northern Corridor from the existing Northern Motorway to Queen Elizabeth II Drive (SH74), the Southern Corridor from Curletts Road to Weedons Road north of Rolleston, and the Western Corridor (SH1) from Hornby to the Northern Motorway.
NZTA Canterbury Regional Director Mark Yaxley says there is a lot of work to be carried out on the programme this year. The consultations underway for the Memorial Ave-Russley Road intersection, Western Belfast Bypass and the Northern Arterial are crucial to delivering the upgraded highway network.
”It’s good to see consultation commencing so soon after the launch of this programme in January. The views of stakeholders and the wider community are vital to the success of these three projects, as they will shape state highways in the greater Christchurch area for generations to come. We encourage anyone with an interest in transport to take a look at the projects that interest them and then give us their feedback.”
Mr Yaxley said shorter travelling times and improved road safety are the major benefits motorists can expect from the biggest road construction programme in the region’s history. This programme will also make a major contribution to economic growth in the region through the more efficient movement of freight, especially to Lyttelton Port and Christchurch International Airport. Consultation documents and closing dates are on the NZTA website.
