SH76 Brougham Street upgrade

Stage One - Brougham Street Bridge

4 September 2026

We've been working closely with them to coordinate the timing of our projects. This will reduce disruption for the community and people travelling through the area, while avoiding the need to dig up newly completed sections of the road later.

The Council will share more information on their work in the coming weeks, as planning progresses.

As part of the wider programme, larger electricity cables will also be installed to help improve the reliability of the local power network.

We'll be working with the Council to coordinate our communications, so people know what work is happening, when it's happening, and what it means for residents, businesses and people travelling through the area.

Completing these upgrades first means much of the underground infrastructure will be in place before we tackle work on the road surface, intersections, and T2 lanes next year.

We'll continue to share updates as work progresses and provide information about upcoming activity across Brougham Street.

Find out more about NZTA’s work on Brougham Street. We’ll share a link to the Council’s work when details are confirmed.

Image showing the gold and yellow colours of the new bridge. Photo credit: Christchurch City Council

Why is the bridge red and gold?

Now that the bridge is in place, you may have noticed its distinctive red and gold colours and wondered why they were chosen.

The bridge artwork was created by renowned Christchurch artist Lonnie Hutchison, whose work can be found throughout Aotearoa, including at Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre and the Justice and Emergency Services Precinct.

The design draws inspiration from the natural environment and the experience of walking or cycling across a bridge suspended above a busy road. At its heart, it tells a story of connection: connecting people, places and the landscape around them.

The gold colour of the bridge reflects the golden native grasses that grow along many of our waterways, helping connect the green spaces and natural features on either side of the street while softening the appearance of the structure. The bold red elements represent Papatūānuku and kōkōwai, a natural red earth pigment used in Māori art and design for generations. Together, the colours create a bridge that is both welcoming and unmistakable.

Look a little closer and you'll find more layers to the story. The transparent side panels feature patterns inspired by harakeke, traditional weaving. Their design is based on an historic weaving pattern once used for outrigger sails.

Above, the roof panels feature laser cut kawakawa leaves, a native plant known for its healing properties. As the sun moves across the sky, the patterns cast changing shadows through the bridge, creating a different experience throughout the day.

The result is more than just a way to cross the road. It's a structure that celebrates local stories, culture and the natural environment, while creating a landmark for people travelling through the area and a gateway into inner Christchurch for drivers on SH76.

Around 61 tonnes of reinforcing steel is built into the concrete decks and paths

Making the connection - building the ramps

With the bridge now in place above Brougham Street, attention has shifted to the ramps and paths that will connect people safely to and from the structure.

The ramps have been designed with a gentle curve, reducing the distance most people need to travel to reach the bridge while creating a more direct and accessible route for walkers and cyclists.

The first sections of the ramps are supported by reinforced earth embankments, while the upper sections are formed by curved steel sections supported by piers. This design creates an open, spacious feel beneath the ramps, making it easy for people to walk or cycle underneath.

Building the ramps has been a significant undertaking. The curved steel sections were fabricated in Napier before being transported to Christchurch in sections small enough to travel on New Zealand roads. To make the journey possible, each piece had to be less than five metres wide. Once on site, the sections were lifted into place and connected to form the sweeping curves now taking shape.

The ramps will soon be painted the same distinctive red as the bridge, creating a consistent look across the entire structure. While the bridge arrived on site already painted to minimise work above the busy road below, the ramps are being coated in Christchurch to ensure a seamless finish.

There's also plenty of engineering hidden beneath the surface. The ramp decks will use around 208 cubic metres of concrete, equivalent to about 18 concrete truckloads on each side of the bridge. More than 61 tonnes of reinforcing steel is built into the concrete decks and paths, helping create a strong and durable connection between the bridge and the ground.

As work continues, the final shape of the crossing is becoming increasingly visible, bringing the project one step closer to opening for the community.

What is happening over Brougham - final touches to the bridge

Over the next few weeks our crew will be working at night to install 74 glass panels along the sides of the bridge, with 38 on the west side and 36 on the east. Together with the bridge roof, these panels help create a safe and secure environment for people using the bridge while maintaining visibility from inside and out.

The roof is already complete, with all 98 laser-cut kawakawa patterned panels now in place. As well as providing some shelter from the elements, the roof adds another layer of safety for people walking and cycling across the bridge.

The bridge deck or floor has been poured and needed 5 truckloads of concrete to create the surface that people will soon walk and ride across.

To get as much work done as we can during these night shifts, we will also have crews building new kerb and channel, installing streetlights and constructing the centre median island.

Because this work is taking place above and beside live traffic lanes, it needs to be done overnight when traffic volumes are lower. This allows lanes to be closed without causing significant delays and helps keep both crews and road users safe.

98 laser-cut kawakawa patterned roof panels are now in place

Opening day is getting closer

We're expecting the new bridge to open to walkers and cyclists in November, marking a major milestone for the project.

Opening the bridge doesn't mean all the work is finished. It does mean people will be able to cross Brougham Street using the new bridge while crews focus on completing the remaining work below.

Once the bridge is open, work will continue on the road layout and the areas around and beneath the structure. This includes landscaping, completing the final road works, and removing the existing pedestrian crossing at street level on Brougham Street.

Opening the bridge first allows pedestrians and cyclists to move safely above the road while crews finish the last stage of construction.

The remaining work is expected to continue through to January, when this section of the project is scheduled to be complete.

Our project continues to attract interest from schools and industry groups keen to learn more about the engineering behind the work. We've welcomed a number of groups on site and shared project insights through presentations. Here, Chris from Fulton Hogan talks bridges with students from Sacred Heart Catholic School. 

More information

For more information on the SH76 Brougham Street upgrade project, contact us at brougham@nzta.govt.nz

Visit our website www.nzta.govt.nz/sh76-brougham-upgrade