Working towards a solution

Talking with communities is an essential step informing Waka Kotahi transport project planning and design. This step gives everyone an opportunity to have a say on the project and helps the design team to deliver the best possible solution for the community. 

We've listened, and consequently over the past few months the team has been reassessing and investigating several alternative ways the residential and industrial sides of Rolleston could be connected. Top of mind is preventing  people from being killed and seriously injured on SH1 and rail crossings in Rolleston. This is a high-risk section of a major South Island freight corridor, intersecting with rail. (There have been around 40 near misses at Hoskyns level crossing in the past ten years.)

The investigation process involves reassessing options and testing how they perform against key criteria – including how they fit with the district's transport system, the short and long-term effects on the wider transport network, Selwyn District Council’s vision for the community and economy, as well as safety, environmental and cost considerations.

Getting back to you

We've been refining the options down to around three and a solution that we think fits community needs better is starting to emerge. There's still a bit more work to do yet however, with partners and stakeholders including Selwyn District Council and KiwiRail.

The team is expecting to have a revised draft plan with a preferred option ready for community feedback around mid-2022. We'll keep you posted.

Engagement with the community on this critical transport project will help to ensure we reach the best possible solution for Rolleston. 

Speed review update

It makes sense to check speeds are right for the highway while we are talking with the community about major transport infrastructure projects.

As part of engagement last year, we asked the community about the current SH1 speed limits from Hoskyns Road right through to Dunsandel. We asked if speeds felt safe and right for the road, if they had experienced near misses or found it hard turning on or off the highway and if there were any places where lower speeds could mean people feel safer.

The team has reviewed community feedback on highway speed limits* alongside their technical assessment and determined the current speed limits can remain for the time being, while planning for infrastructure upgrades are underway.

A safe and appropriate speed limit recommendation will be included as part of the SH1 Rolleston Flyover and Transport Improvements project design. The project will also factor in safety improvements in the pipeline for the broader corridor from Templeton through to the Selwyn River. (This includes roundabout options for Burnham.)

Safe speed limits and infrastructure improvements work together to create a safe road system. Vehicle safety, good road user choices, transport system management and work-related road safety are equally as important and are our internationally proven focus areas.

Action in these five key areas will help us meet our Road to Zero target of 40% less deaths and serious injuries on our roads in the next ten years.

*See page 7 of the December community engagement report.

For more information on how we are improving our road system visit www.nzta.govt.nz/road-to-zero

About NZUP

Waka Kotahi is delivering this project as part of the New Zealand Upgrade Programme -NZUP - the Government's $8.7 billion investment across road, rail, public transport and walking and cycling infrastructure in growth areas which include Canterbury.

NZUP investments have a number of focus areas and safety is a big one. The programme also recognises the importance of reliable freight routes to get goods to market, develop new business opportunitiy and support economic growth. Investment in rail makes our roads safer by taking trucks off them.

Investment is balanced in that we are providing for more travel choice with safe, new walking and cycling paths included. 

Families in Rolleston can look forward to having more choices for travelling to work, home education and play.

For more info: www.nzta.govt.nz/planning-and-investment/nz-upgrade

More information

For more project information and to subscribe to updates and future feedback opportunities visit: www.nzta.govt.nz/rollestonflyover

Email the team at rollestonflyover@nzta.govt.nz