Stepping stone in Quarryman's Trail

The first stage of a cycle route that will eventually connect Halswell and the central city is nearing completion with the last few intersections and crossings opening soon.

Construction work started on the Quarryman’s Trail cycleway last October. The first 4.6 kilometre stage of the route, from Moorhouse Ave to Victors Rd, is expected to be finished by the end of June. In the next few weeks traffic signals will be turned on at two new intersections and two new controlled crossings for cyclists and pedestrians.

The intersection of Lyttelton and Sparks roads.

A pedestrian and cyclist crossing at Rydal St-Sparks Rd near Hoon Hay School became operational this week, signals at the Lyttelton St Sparks Rd intersection will open next Monday, 28 May, and traffic lights will go on at Sparks Rd and Hoon Hay Rd the following Tuesday, 5 June.

Another pedestrian and cyclist crossing has been built at the intersection of Barrington and Strauss Sts and this will open in June once the new shared path connecting Roker Street and Barrington Street is finished.

The contractors, Isaac Construction Ltd, have completed the intersection upgrades using ‘deep lift asphalt’. This is a relatively new technique where the asphalt is a thicker layer than usual and allows faster construction. It is also stronger and more long-lasting, reducing future maintenance.

Contractor Fulton Hogan has worked on the section of the Quarryman’s Trail between Moorhouse Ave and Roker St which is already open, and includes two new and three upgraded intersections.

The final stage of the cycleway, from Victors Rd to Te Hapua in Halswell, will be constructed at a later date subject to funding availability.

Lynette Ellis, the Council’s Planning and Delivery Transport Manager, says the new  intersections will benefit motorists as well as improving safety for pedestrians and cyclists.

“They will help ease congestion, particularly at peak times at the busy intersections of Lyttelton Rd and Sparks Rd and at Hoon Hay Rd and Sparks Rd which were previously roundabouts and now have signals. The zebra crossing outside Hoon Hay School has been replaced with pedestrian signals which will make it much safer for children.”

Long term, the cycle route will provide a safe way for people to commute between Halswell and the central city, she says.

The Quarryman’s Trail is part of a network of Major Cycle Routes being built across the city by the Council to link shopping centres, businesses, schools, parks and popular recreation destinations.