SH1 Tram Road off-ramp safety improvements

Intersection upgrade starts Monday 29 January 2024

26 January 2024

Traffic changes

• The Tram Road off-ramp will be fully closed at times during the work, primarily overnight between 8pm and 4am. It will be open during weekday peak evening periods. 
• During off-ramp closures motorway traffic will be detoured via Ohoka Road and Island Road. Please follow signage. 
• The Tram Road overpass will operate one-way eastbound only across the motorway bridge during the work. Westbound traffic will be detoured via Main North Road, Ohoka Road and Island Road. 
• The Tram Road on-ramp will be accessible throughout the work, and in particular during the weekday peak morning period. 
• During overnight off-ramp and Tram Road closures, access to the on-ramp will be available from the east approach (Main North Road) side only.
• Drivers heading from Christchurch to Kaiapoi are encouraged to consider using Main North Road and the Old Waimakariri Bridge to access Kaiapoi to avoid disruption at the interchange.

Thanks for your patience while we complete this safety upgrade. Please follow signage, drive with care through the worksite and allow extra time for your journey.

Worksite hours

Crews will be onsite Monday to Friday from Monday 29 January until late April 2024.

Daytime hours are: Monday to Friday between 6am and 6pm.

Nightwork hours are: Sunday to Thursday between 8pm and 4am.

Some weekend work may be needed. 

What these changes mean

• Drivers will more confidently be able to turn right safely from the off-ramp at Tram Road.
• Merging like a zip will be easier and safer on the merge lane on Tram Road. 
• Currently when vehicles come up the off-ramp to turn right towards Kaiapoi, driver’s visibility to the right is restricted by the overbridge handrailing. The traffic lights will mitigate this risk.

Community feedback

Some concerns have been raised by the community that the traffic signals may cause traffic to queue back onto the motorway.

When planning this project, we looked at expected queuing on the ramp. Data showed around 1,000 vehicles per day use the Tram Road off-ramp during the pm peak (4pm-6pm). Of these, the majority (830) use the free left-turn to head west and around 170 use the right turn to head east. This number is not expected to cause traffic queuing down the ramp to the motorway.

The traffic signals will also have loops to detect and manage traffic and are monitored by our Real Time Operators to avoid any queuing back onto the motorway.

More information

For more information on the SH1 Tram Road off-ramp safety improvements project, contact us at tramroad@nzta.govt.nz

Visit our website www.nzta.govt.nz/christchurch-northern-corridor