Why we're upgrading one of Christchurch's busiest roads

Work is about to begin on a two-year project to upgrade the infrastructure on Riccarton Road, between Harakeke Street and Matipo Street. Here we answer some of your questions about the project.

Why does this work have to be done now?

An artist's impression of the Riccarton Road upgrade.

The sewer (or wastewater) pipes that run underneath Riccarton Road are nearly 100 years old. They have reached the end of their lifespan and need replacing. If we delay replacing them, there is a risk they could fail, resulting in major disruption and road works. The road surface is also in poor condition, with damage evident in many areas, so it too needs to be replaced.

At the same time as we do the resurfacing, we will be adding bus priority measures so that buses can travel more easily along Riccarton Road, which will cut travel times for public transport users along this busy route.

Why is it going to take almost two years?

If we were just resurfacing the road we could complete the upgrade in a much shorter time frame. It is because we need to also replace the water and sewer pipes that run beneath the road that this project is likely to take until December 2020 to complete.

What’s the most time-consuming aspect of the work?

The sewer pipe is located four metres below the surface of the road so a very deep trench has to be dug to reach it. The trench sides needs to be supported so it is a time consuming process. Work on the trench can only proceed at about 1 metre a day. Our contractors are starting at three different work sites to speed up the process.

Can’t you speed-up the work by working at night and at weekends?

Our contractors will be working nights and weekends when required, but during the sewer pipe work it is dangerous to work at night because good lighting is needed. There are also motels and a rest home along the route and night work would be very disruptive for them so it is a case of balancing the needs of the whole community.

Why are you putting a tree-lined median strip down the middle?

In 2015 we asked the community for their views on two upgrade options – one with a tree-lined median and one without a median island. The option with trees along a central median was preferred by people who submitted on the plans. This option was subsequently recommended by the Halswell-Hornby-Riccarton Community Board to the Council’s Infrastructure, Transport and Environment Committee, who approved the scheme in August 2015.

The tree-lined median uses space made available by the removal of car parks. There is still one lane of traffic in each direction, as there is now. The tree-lined median should help to slow traffic speeds and make the area safer for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers. The trees, along with other streetscape enhancements, such as new furniture, paving and landscaping, will also make this part of central Riccarton more attractive and a destination rather than solely a transport corridor.

Do other parts of Riccarton Road need upgrading?

The stretch of Riccarton Road between Deans Avenue and Harakeke Street has already been upgraded. No other work of this scale is planned but some improvements to intersections and other facilities, such as for cycling, are scheduled to occur over the next 10 years.