Kia Ora

As you know, Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency has been looking at ways to make it safer and easier to travel on State Highway 1 (SH1) in North Canterbury.

We know that deaths and serious injuries can be reduced by making some relatively simple, but effective changes like adding safety barriers, improving intersections, and reviewing speeds.

In late 2019 we held open days to show people some of our ideas to make SH1 safer. Since then we have been meeting with key stakeholders and carrying out more detailed design investigations to help us apply for construction funding and getting started on a number of changes to make the route safer.

In December 2020 we opened the new Christchurch Northern Corridor, and in January, we finished installing traffic lights at the pedestrian crossing outside Woodend School, ready for the new school year. 

We also reviewed speeds between Waikuku and Lineside Road and following consultation, new speed limits came into effect from 15 December. You can read more about that here.

Over the coming months you will notice other work getting underway, including the installation of new flexible median barriers between the Cam River and Tram Road section of SH1.

Other projects are moving through detailed designs stages, which will involve further engagement with the community.

You can read more about our plans to make this stretch of road safer below.

Ngā Mihi,

The Project Team

Vision Zero – our road strategy

The changes we are making on SH1 will mean simple mistakes don’t cost lives.

They are aligned to our Road to Zero strategy, which adopts Vision Zero, a vision for Aotearoa New Zealand where no-one is killed or seriously injured in road crashes, and where no death or serious injury while travelling on our roads is acceptable.

A vision where all New Zealanders, no matter their age or ability, can get around safely and our road system actually improves people’s health and well-being, and the places and spaces we love.

You can read more about Vision Zero here.

New pedestrian crossing tried out before the start of the 2021 school year.

Flexible median safety barriers

Flexible median barriers will be installed along the northern motorway right up to Cam River, just south of Williams Street this year, following a tender process in February.

This extension of the northern motorway barriers will help prevent head-on collisions. The barriers ‘catch’ vehicles that leave their lane before they hit something harder – like other vehicles or trees, poles, and ditches.

They are suited to many New Zealand roads because they can often be installed without significantly widening the road. They are cost-effective, and they work – results show a 70–80 percent reduction in road fatalities.

When a vehicle hits these barriers the high-tension wire cables flex, slowing down the vehicle and redirecting it away from the hazard.

This flexibility means that the barrier absorbs impact energy, reducing the force on the people in the vehicles, resulting in less severe injuries than other safety barrier systems and from collisions with roadside hazards or other vehicles.

The project will be constructed in two sections. The first section is on the four-lane section of the highway, from Tram Road to the SH1/State Highway 71 (SH71) Lineside Road interchange. Flexible median safety barriers will be installed on either side of the grass median.

Four gaps in the median safety barriers will be incorporated along this section of highway for maintenance crews and emergency services. We have been working with FENZ, NZ Police and our maintenance crews to decide on the location of these gaps.

The existing roadside safety barriers on the south side of Kaiapoi River Bridge will be extended by about 400m in length.

The team will also be making some minor changes to the Ohoka interchange, so over dimension vehicles can travel on this route more easily.

The second section, on the two-lane stretch of the highway, runs from the SH1/SH71 interchange up to Cam River. This section will include pavement widening to create space for the new flexible median safety barrier.

Saltwater Creek to Williams Street

Investigations are underway for additional safety improvements, including safety barriers and wide centrelines on this section of highway.

We expect to be able to update stakeholders and the community on our progress on this section of the highway later in the year.

Tram Road intersection improvements

We are currently reviewing a number of options to improve safety and reduce crashes at the intersection of the SH1 and Tram Road. Options include installation of traffic signals, improvements to the left turn merge as well as signage and line marking upgrades. We will share the proposed intersection layout once the feasibility of any upgrades have been fully assessed.

New T2 (carpool) lanes and shared path on the Christchurch Northern Corridor

The new Christchurch Northern Corridor includes T2 lanes (carpool lanes) and a shared path for cyclists and pedestrians that runs beside the new motorway.

Find out more here.

More information

For more information visit our website.

You can also contact the team by emailing safetynorthcanterbury@nzta.govt.nz