Project introduction

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency has made changes to the State Highway 73 (SH73) and Weedons Ross Road intersection making it safer and easier for everyone to use whether they are walking, cycling, scootering or driving.

  • Project type

    Safety improvements
  • Project status

    Completed

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Work to be done

As part of the project, we’ll be back during the week starting 13 January 2025 to do a final scheduled coat of chip seal and refresh line markings.

Connecting the community and making it safer and easier to get around West Melton

We completed construction including the installation of new signals in March 2023.

The project, which is part of the New Zealand Upgrade Programme included:

  • traffic signals at the intersection of State Highway 73 (SH73) and Weedons Ross Road with pedestrian crossing phases for improved safety
  • a new link road connecting Weedons Ross Road with West Melton Road
  • a new cul-de-sac on West Melton Road where it previously connected with Weedons Ross Road
  • a new roundabout at the intersection of the new link road with Weedons Ross Road (opposite Kingsdowne Drive)
  • new shared paths for pedestrians and cyclists connecting key parts of the community
  • changes to stockwater races and other utility services.

These changes will improve connections in the community to key facilities, like the community and recreation centre, the Domain, local shops, West Melton School, early childcare facilities, churches, and the tavern.

It will be safer for the community to get around West Melton whether people are walking, cycling, scooting, or driving.

Travel times at the intersection will also be more reliable – which is  important with the connection to the Christchurch Southern Motorway, and as Selwyn District continues to grow. 

View larger map [PDF, 1.5 MB]

Community engagement

People in the community told us they would like to feel safer when walking and cycling around the village, and that drivers using the intersection are worried about crashes and often feel frustrated because of the lengthy delays at busy times.

We held a workshop, in October 2020, with stakeholders and discussed the development of a roundabout or traffic signals at the intersection. We then developed a proposed design.

During November and December 2020, we asked the public for feedback on our proposed design.

The project team considered this information to ensure the best possible design was developed.

You can see what others had to say, at that time, on our interactive online map.

View online feedback(external link)

Thank you very much to those who provided feedback.

We then continued to refine our design (see above).

New Zealand Upgrade Programme

This project is part of the NZ Upgrade Programme (NZUP), the Government's $8.7 billion investment in growing communities across the country.

Through NZUP, communities can look forward to transport improvements that provide more travel choices, help people get where they’re going safely and grow our economy, while responding to the impacts of travel on the environment.

NZ Upgrade Programme

 

NZUP West Melton improvements logo