SH75 Halswell Road improvements

Project update

26 April 2024

Construction is about to kick off

Kia ora

We’re about to start work on making it easier and safer for everyone who travels along Halswell Road between Dunbars Road and Curletts Road, and making the road fit for the growing number of vehicles using it.

Fulton Hogan has been awarded the construction contract, and you will see members of the team setting up and starting site preparation including checking ground conditions and other necessary work ahead of starting construction.

Below is information about the work that's about to start, an update on the design, what to expect during construction, hours of work, and who to contact.

There is a lot to do along the 2.6km stretch of road, and construction is expected to take two and a half years to complete. We know this is a long time and that road works are frustrating. We will update you when there are signifcant changes to the temporary traffic management and as the project progresses.

Thank you for your cooperation and patience.

Ngā mihi (Kind regards)

The Project Team

What’s happening first?

Initial work will focus on the Aidanfield Drive intersection and tree removal along the project area.

The ground beneath Halswell Road is home to pipes and cables for several services including water, stormwater, sewer, traffic signals, power and telecommunications. Some utilities may need to be relocated or new services installed.

The first works at the intersection include installing stormwater pipes and removing the current road surface so the new road can be built. A temporary traffic management layout will be required at the intersection.

Trees

To create the room needed to relocate existing and install new underground services, Fulton Hogan will be removing about 58 trees from along the project area in early May. This will ensure the services are in the right place once they start changing the road layout and that they can carry out other work.

Removing the trees is also necessary to make room for bus stops and shelters, and for the shared paths and the off-road cycle path.
This work will take about two weeks to complete and will be done on weekdays between 7am and 7pm.

The tree limbs will be removed and then the trunks brought down. Chainsaws and chippers will be used to complete the work quickly and efficiently, but it will be noisy.

We know trees are an important part of every community and have worked to keep as many as possible. While it is a difficult decision to remove trees, it needs to be balanced with the need to provide better options for people travelling along this increasingly busy stretch of Halswell Road, both now and as our community grows.

For every tree removed, we will plant two more within the project area where possible, and are working with Christchurch City Council on other potential locations.

Fulton Hogan is looking into ways the mulch and wood from the felled trees can be used by local community groups or charities.

Design update

We can now confirm the location of bus stops and bus shelters as proposed and shown on the plans on the project web page.

We will not be building the raised safety platform at the Aidanfield Drive intersection and the raised pedestrian crossing east of Tankerville Road. The intersection and crossing will be flush with the road. The traffic lights at both locations will be installed as planned.

The map below provides an overview of what we’re building. It doesn’t show bus stop locations and isn’t to scale. For a larger version of the map go to the project web page.

For more detail about what we're building including bus locations, check out the plans and information on the project web page.

What will this mean for you, the Halswell Road community, and commuters?

Fulton Hogan is developing construction methods to ensure work can be done efficiently and safely while also minimising disruption to residents, local businesses/services, and road users. However, it is inevitable there will be some disruption and changes to traffic management.

Fulton Hogan will also put in place measures to minimise noise, dust, and vibration.

Driveway access and on-street parking
Access to properties, businesses and services will be maintained. However, Fulton Hogan may need to work in front of driveways from time to time. They will give notice of this and will work with individuals to minimise impacts.

Where roadworks are underway and in an effort to balance the needs of access and safety, on-street parking in the affected areas is unlikely to be available.

Traffic impacts during the work

• Two lanes will be kept open to traffic during most of the work.

• A temporary 30km/h speed restriction will be in be place.

• Several temporary traffic management layouts will be in place as the project progresses.

• To keep school students and other people walking and cycling safe, pedestrian refuges will be provided, along with temporary fencing sitewide.

Please drive with care through the work site, allow extra time, follow signs and look out for changes to the road layout.

As the project progresses, we’ll update you ahead of any significant changes to traffic layouts and the work site.

Hours of work
Usually, most work will be carried out from Monday to Friday between 7am and 7pm, and on Saturdays if needed.

There will, occasionally, be a need to work at night and if we do, the majority will be on the state highway. Night work is undertaken when the work would be too disruptive to traffic during the day.

Fulton Hogan will notify directly affected residents ahead of any night work.
The first instance of this could be at the Aidanfield Drive intersection.

Who to contact

Please contact Fulton Hogan on 0800 ROAD FH (0800 7623 34) Monday to Friday, 8am-5pm, to discuss any specific access needs such as nurse/doctor visits or Meals on Wheels deliveries to your property. Contact at any time if the matter is urgent.

If you have a more general query about the project, please email us at Halswell.Road@nzta.govt.nz

For more information

For more information about the SH75 Halswell Road improvements project visit the project web page:nzta.govt.nz/Halswell