Ashburton Deputy Mayor Liz McMillan, Upoko Te Rūnanga o Arowhenua and Waihao Tewera King and MP for Rangitata Jo Luxton turning the first sod.

Site blessed and first sod turned

A blessing and sod turning has been held ahead of work beginning on the project.

Around 30 guests, which included dignataries, iwi and community members as well as Fulton Hogan, KiwiRail, GHD and Waka Kotahi staff, attended the event.

Upoko Te Rūnanga o Arowhenua and Waihao Tewera King blessed the site ahead of the turning of the ground near the railway line on Melcombe Street.

Tewera, MP for Rangitata Jo Luxton and Ashburton Deputy Mayor Liz McMillan then all helped to turn the first sod.

The project has been funded through the Government's $8.7 billion NZ Upgrade Programme.

It is the third and last project included in the rural intersection upgrade package in Canterbury to get underway.

(Left) New traffic lights in use in West Melton. (Right) The new rail level crossing signals in Ashburton

Other projects in the NZUP rural intersection improvements package

Walnut Avenue, Ashburton

Safety and access improvements on State Highway 1 (West Street) and East Street with Walnut Avenue were completed in late 2022.

This complex project has involved replacing two roundabouts with traffic lights, and integrating those lights with new rail level crossing signals. This is making the area safer for everyone whether driving, biking or walking - especially school children attending local schools.

SH73 West Melton

Installation of traffic lights, with pedestrian crossing phases on SH73 at the intersection with Weedons Ross Road is making it safer and easier for people to get around the township whether they're walking, cycling or driving.

The project, recently completed, also included a new cul-de-sac on West Melton Road, a link road and roundabout connecting Weedons Ross and West Melton roads, changes to stockwater races and shared paths for walkers and cyclists.

More information

For more information on the SH1 Tinwald Corridor Improvements project, contact us at tinwaldnzta.govt.nz

Visit our website www.nzta.govt.nz/tinwald