SH1 Belfast to Pegasus Motorway and Woodend Bypass

Project update

19 February 2026

Early works to prepare for the new motorway

We've started work on the State Highway One Belfast to Pegasus Motorway and Woodend Bypass (B2P). In this newsletter we provide an update on the early works planned to prepare for the future motorway.

Kaiapoi River Bridge strengthening

Work has started to strengthen the Kaiapoi River Bridge so in the future it can safely carry an extra southbound lane between the Lineside Road intersection and the Ohoka Road southbound slip lane.

The work involves strengthening the bridge abutments and wrapping the bridge columns with a special material called Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer.

The additional lane will provide the capacity needed between the Lineside Road on-ramp and the Ohoka Road off-ramp.

We expect work on the bridge columns under the highway to finish around mid-August this year.

Work underway on the northern bridge abutment

Passchendaele Memorial Path diversion

Work is underway on the northern side of the river, where we're excavating around the bridge piers that sit right beside the Passchendaele Memorial Path.

To keep everyone safe while crews work in close proximity to the bridge columns, a 900m section of the path is closed between the Raven Quay bridge and just south of Mill Road until Monday 16 April 2026.

A signposted alternative path is available alongside the existing path. Note that it has a gravel surface. Riders using small-wheeled bikes or those who are less confident may prefer to avoid the area until it reopens in April.

Filling in quarry lakes north of Pineacres

We'll soon start to prepare the ground behind Pineacres near Kaiapoi for the future road.

The motorway route crosses two man-made quarry lakes north of Pineacres. The lakes have grown in the time the designation for the motorway has been in place and have depths of up to 8m in some places.

We need to partially fill them with enough gravel to form a stable foundation for the new motorway.

The length of motorway to be built through the lakes is about 450m long with embankment widths varying between 40m and 75m. About 180,000 cubic metres of gravel needs to be filled into the lakes, which will come from the Waimakariri River and the Ashley River / Rakahuri. It’ll take 6-9 months to form the base for the new road.

Doing this now as part of early works allows the gravel to settle properly, ensuring main construction works can start efficiently later. 

Before trucks start bringing gravel in, the site needs to be prepared. Work will start in late March and includes:

• Removing some trees along the southern lake boundary to create an access road within the site
• Removing a run-down, unstable shed
• Canterbury Grass Skinks will be carefully relocated from our work areas to protect this native species during construction activities
• Installing a weighbridge for truck monitoring
• Creating an access and haul road within the site.

What to expect

• Increased truck activity in the area from April
• Temporary traffic management
• Some noise and dust from truck tipping operations.

We'll use water carts to help manage dust, and traffic controls will be used to keep everyone safe. 

Location of the motorway route through the lakes north of Pineacres

What's happening next?

We've nearly finished detailed design for the entire project and in early 2026 applications for statutory approvals were lodged under the Fast Track Approvals Act 2024 (FTAA). The consent application documents are available on the Fast-track website. 

• Fasttrack.govt.nz 

We're continuing with property aquisition and are preparing for work starting at the quarry lakes in March.

More information

Visit our website nzta.govt.nz/b2p  for more information on the SH1 Belfast to Pegasus motorway and Woodend Bypass

Contact us at b2p@nzta.govt.nz