SH75 Halswell Road improvements

End of year project newsletter

11 December 2024

Looking forward and looking back

Kia ora and season’s greetings,

As we head towards the end of the year, we would like to let you know what’s happening leading up to Christmas, during the holiday break, and what’s planned for the New Year. We would also like to recap on progress to date.

Work on the project will shut down for the Christmas and New Year break on Thursday 19 December and start again on Tuesday, 7 January 2025.

Most of the current traffic management will need to remain as parts of the road will still be unfinished. This means the traffic lanes will still be narrow with cyclists needing to share the traffic lanes with other vehicles and the speed limit remaining at 30km/h. The barriers separating traffic lanes and the pedestrian crossing lights will also remain.

The site will be tidied, fences and road cones will be removed where it’s safe to do so and there won’t be any closures on side streets.

Fulton Hogan staff will check the site daily during the break. However, if you see something that you think should be reported please get in touch with our contractor on the 0800 number at the end of this newsletter.

We would like to thank you for your patience and understanding during the disruption this year and the disruption that will occur next year.

Wishing you happy holidays and safe travels.

Ngā mihi/Kind regards
SH75 Halswell Road project team

By Christmas we expect to complete:

between Curletts Road and Rowley Ave:
• 80 percent of the new stormwater system
• 90 percent of the sewer pipe installation
• 40 percent of the kerb and channelling

between Rowley Avenue and Augustine Drive/Monsaraz Boulevard
• 55 per cent of the new stormwater system
• 90 percent of the sewer pipe installation

in the area around the Aidanfield Drive intersection
• 60 percent of the new stormwater system
• 50 percent of the kerb and channelling
• the new north bound lanes
• removal of 30 percent of the existing road in the southbound lanes (in preparation for the new road)

from just south of Aidanfield Drive to Dunbars Road
• 20 percent of the kerb and channelling
• 20 percent of the new road

A 2050mm diameter manhole being installed in Rowley Ave, along with 750mm diameter concrete stormwater pipe

Early 2025

When the crews get back to work, they’ll continue to install:
• the new sewer pipe between Curletts Road and Tankerville Road using the current traffic management system
• the new stormwater system on the southbound (heading out of town) side of the road. This includes new larger concrete pipes, manholes and more sumps.

And start to build:
• the new Rowley Ave intersection. (This will need a road closure on Rowley Ave at the intersection - we’ll provide more details closer to the time)
• the new road, including kerb and channelling, from Rowley Ave towards Warren Crescent on the southbound side using the current traffic management system.

At the Aidanfield Drive intersection:
• traffic will stay on the new northbound lanes (heading towards town) while work continues on the south bound lanes
• work will start on the 4th leg of the intersection (opposite Aidanfield Drive)
• stormwater pipes will be installed heading north from outside Halswell Timber
• the final smooth surface, and line marking will be done. This will need a short road closure on Aidanfield Drive – we’ll tell you more about that about closer to the time.

We hope to finish the intersection and have the new traffic lights operating by March next year.

Looking back

Much of the year’s work has concentrated on the Aidanfield Drive intersection, and relocating and upgrading underground services. So far, we’ve installed about 3800 metres of pipes and conduit.

The Aidanfield Drive intersection has been challenging with worse than expected ground conditions on both sides of Halswell Road.  This meant we have had to dig deeper and, so far, use an extra 6000 tonnes of material to strengthen the road.

Our focus on underground work in 2024 is clearing the way for building the road, bus lanes, cycle and shared paths, new intersections and other improvements. It’s also creating greater resilience for these services such as sewer, water, stormwater, power and telecommunications in the area.

Also, moving services so they are under the footpath or road shoulder will make them easier to repair and maintain without having to dig up the new road to get to them - more efficient and less disruptive for everyone.

At its peak, we have had 80 people working on site and the project has just clocked over its busiest month so far in November with 15,000 hours worked on site.

Hendersons Road
Last month, we brought in left turns only into and out of Henderson Road, redirecting right turning traffic through Monsaraz Boulevard. This has helped to reduce queuing at Hendersons Road and made the intersection safer.

Leap frogging to install services!
The new sewer pipe and stormwater system being installed between Rowley Ave and Augustine Drive/Monsaraz Boulevard has required some coordination to be time efficient and reduce disruption. While the crew installing the stormwater system has progressed, the sewer pipe installation team has jumped ahead of them and then move back to follow them so that both crews could work in roughly the same area at the same time.

Drop-in sessions and workshops
Cyclist drop-in sessions and driver workshops for Fulton Hogan staff, held in late August with road safety group Share the Road were opportunities for cyclists and truck drivers to better understand each other on the Halswell Road work site. The key takeaways being to look out for each other, to consider where they can and cannot be seen, and to indicate their intentions.

Trees continue to give back
Mulch from trees that had to be removed is being used at Aidanfield Cemetery, Seven Oaks School, St John of God and by Christchurch City Council.

Mulch is being used in gardens at St John of God (left) and was delivered to Seven Oaks School earlier in the year (right)Caption text here...

Can we help?

Please contact Fulton Hogan on 0800 ROAD FH (0800 7623 34) Monday to Friday, 8am - 5pm, or email cant.info@fultonhogan.com, to discuss any specific access needs such as nurse/doctor visits or Meals on Wheels deliveries to your property.

Contact us at anytime if the matter is urgent.

For more information

For more information on the SH75 Halswell Road improvements project, visit our website www.nzta.govt.nz/Halswell

or email us at Halswell.Road@nzta.govt.nz