Southbound lanes opening - starting this weekend

A single southbound lane is opening for the first time to traffic in two stages.

From this Saturday, a lane will open from the Shands Road Interchange through to Main South Road. (See entry point in the diagram above.)

Weather dependent, the following weekend the remaining connection from Halswell Junction Road to Shands Road Interchange will open.

Traffic will then be able to travel southbound on the Christchurch Southern Motorway, all the way from Christchurch City though to Rolleston.

STAGE 1 From Shands Road to Main South Road Bridge this Saturday

From this Saturday afternoon 5 September, the southbound on-ramp and one lane of traffic will open at the Shands Road Interchange through to Main South Road Bridge.

Traffic management and speed restrictions will be in place, so please drive carefully and be patient.

The position of traffic will change over time to help embed the chip. Crews will be back later in the new year to lay the final low-noise ashphalt surfacing.

STAGE 2 The following weekend, the final connection from the end of the existing motorway southbound- through to Shands Road Interchange- will open (weather dependent)

Speed restrictions will be in place across the 14.5km of new motorway to help protect the fresh surfacing. Please stick to the speed limits and enjoy the smooth ride.

Also coming up this weekend

Rail crossing closures
From 9pm Friday 4 September through to 6am Monday 7 September, Curraghs Road, between Manion Road and Jones Road will be closed for work on the rail corridor. Detours will be in place. Businesses within the Curraghs Road closure area can be accessed via Manion Road.

Halswell Junction Road, one-way only
There will be no entry to Halswell Junction Road westbound from Denali Street.
Detours will be in place from:

• 8pm Sunday 6 September to 6am Monday 7 September
• 8pm Wednesday 9 September to 6am Thursday 10 September.

Construction continues

Road works in surrounding areas on local roads will continue and are subject to weather conditions.

This work includes areas that could only be completed once the motorway was open and providing an alternative route for traffic.

Construction of the new roundabout at the Waterholes Road/Dawsons Road roundabout will continue through to the end of 2020.

More information

For more information on the Christchurch Southern Motorway – Stage 2 project and to subscribe to updates, visit our website www.nzta.govt.nz/CSM2 or email your inquiry to CSM2@nzta.govt.nz