SH1 Rolleston Access Improvements

Project Update November 2025

24 November 2025

The work site on the corner of SH1 and Dunns Crossing Road has been cleared ready for construction.

Roundabout early works underway

The Rolleston Access Improvements project is progressing well, with many early-stage activities underway.

We’re now fully set up on site and around 30-40 people will be working here each day. We’ve started pre-casting the components for the pedestrian and cycling subway which is a key feature of the project. It’ll improve connectivity by making it easy and safe for people to cross under the highway to get to various destinations.

If you’re travelling through this area, you’ll see construction happening on both sides of the highway and railway.  By working at the Walkers/Runners Road intersection at the same time as Dunns Crossing Road/SH1, it’s helping us to stay on track with the overall timeline.

Night works extended

Most of our early work includes protecting and relocating existing utilities at the intersection of SH1, Dunns Crossing and Walkers Road. We’re doing this work at night as it’s not possible to close the highway during the day due to traffic volumes, restrictions on the highway and the higher safety risk for our teams.

While we’re installing these trenches, we're making provision for future utilities too. This avoids having to dig up the new road later — saving time, cost, and disruption down the track.   Long term, these upgrades not only bolster the district’s current infrastructure but pave the way for future development in this area and a quickly expanding community.

During our night works on SH1, underground utilities are being shifted so they’ll be in the right place when we build the new roundabout.

We’re also taking the opportunity to carry out some additional work while traffic management is set up - removing poles and temporary road widening. This began last night, 23 November, and will continue for the next two weeks (subject to weather).

The highway remains reduced to one lane on SH1 between 7pm and 5am (excluding Friday and Saturday nights) and temporary traffic lights are managing traffic through the intersection.  We understand that night works can be disruptive, so we schedule noisier work in the early evening and minimise light spill towards nearby homes.

So far, more than 100 protected lizards have been collected from the site and safely rehomed, a significant effort to protect local biodiversity (Image courtesy Effects Management Ecology).

Skinks safely rehomed

During ecological surveys for the new SH1/Dunns Crossing/Walkers Road roundabout, it was estimated that up to 200 southern grass skinks could be living in the long grass beside the highway. As this species is classed as ‘at risk and declining’ they needed to be removed before construction.

Over the last month, trained field staff have carefully trapped and relocated the lizards/mokomoko to their new home - a prepared habitat along the Selwyn River. 

Mark Hansen, principal ecologist at Effects Management Ecology, says the lizard management has been carried out under a Wildlife Act Consent held by NZTA and with the support of the contractors on site. It’s been “a great cooperative and collaborative effort to manage the effects to this protected species while a new major intersection is created on State Highway 1,” he says.

To learn more about this species, visit the NZ Herpetological Society website.

Tree removal and replanting

Tree removal on the site is nearly complete. Clearing this area allows us to relocate and install underground services, prepare the road base, build the new roundabout, and excavate and build the pedestrian and cycling subway under the highway.

We only remove trees when absolutely necessary, and as part of our commitment to sustainability we have plans in place to replant native species. During the removals our team worked with a neighbouring landowner to transplant some native trees growing along the site boundary.

Once construction is complete, landscaping will begin with native trees and shrubs being planted (including a substantial number of specimen trees) and a reserve area created.  This will be very positive for local flora and fauna.

These trees and shrubs will soften the impact of development and provide a visual buffer between future residential and commercial areas and the highway.

We have a track record of good quality landscaping outcomes on our projects - the Christchurch Southern Motorway Stage 2 is a recent example (Image courtesy Natural Habitats Landscapes).

Looking ahead

Service locating

From Wednesday 26 November, for about three days, we’ll be locating services on Dunns Crossing Road. We need to find underground services like pipes, cables and phone lines before building the road and the cul-de-sac.

On site will be a hydrovac machine using high-pressure water and a vacuum to remove soil, which then goes into a debris tank to reduce mess. This method is safe, accurate and avoids damage, but it can be noisy. After locating the services, the holes will be filled and the surface restored.

During work hours, traffic will be reduced to one lane on Dunns Crossing Road, with temporary traffic lights used to manage traffic through the area. Please look out for traffic management staff and follow their instructions.  If we’re working in front of a driveway you need to access, just talk to one of our team members who can help.

December closures

From Wednesday 3 December, for about three weeks, we’ll be working on Dunns Crossing Road, at the intersection with SH1 and the intersection with Newmans Road. This is to install new underground services on Dunns Crossing Road and upgrade the intersection at Newmans Road.

Dunns Crossing Road will be closed at the SH1 intersection, including the Newmans Road intersection. We’ll maintain access for people living on this section of Dunns Crossing Road.

More information

For more information see our website and sign up for the newsletter. You can also subscribe for work notices, which will outline the days, time and duration of specific pieces of work that may cause disruption. 

For specific questions email rollestonaccess@nzta.govt.nz