We’re building new separated cycleways in both directions on Antigua Street between Moorhouse Avenue and St Asaph Street to improve cycle connections and safety in the central city.

We will also be renewing the watermain, which has reached the end of its life. The new pipes will be upgraded in size to help meet increasing demands generated by our growing city. The road and western footpath will also be renewed as part of the project.

Work will begin on 18 May 2025, and the project is expected to be complete by early November, ahead of the opening of the new Parakiore Recreation and Sport Centre(external link). Find information on traffic impacts in the drop-down tab below.

Why we’re building a cycleway

Antigua Street is a key cycle connection used by approximately 1000 to 1200 cyclists every day. This is because south of Moorhouse Avenue, Antigua Street is the final stretch for one of our busiest major cycle routes, Quarryman’s Trail, which leads from Halswell. 

North of Antigua Street, there is also the Uni-Cycle Major Cycle Route carrying people between Riccarton and the central city via Hagley Park, as well as the east and west central city cycleway networks on St Asaph Street (eastbound) and Tuam Street (westbound).

Antigua Street cycle connection map The section of Antigua Street we’re upgrading – between Moorhouse Avenue and St Asaph Street – sits between these key cycleway routes and directly alongside Parakiore Recreation and Sport Centre, which is due to open late 2025. Currently, a temporary cycleway is in place along this part of the road. A redesigned streetscape with permanent separated cycleways will make the road much safer for people who travel by bike, whether for work, school, shopping, or recreation.  

View a map of the nearby cycleway connections. [JPG, 387 KB]

To explore all the cycle connections in the city, view the Christchurch Bike Map.(external link)

The design of the street upgrade focuses on safety and accessibility for all users along Antigua Street, including cyclists, pedestrians, local businesses and the Parakiore facility.

We will also be enhancing the area with new street trees and landscaping.

The key features of the design include:

  • A 2.4m wide northbound separated cycleway on the west side of the road (beside the northbound lane which runs alongside Parakiore). To retain the maximum road space, we’ve utilised some Parakiore land for this cycle lane.  
  • A 2.3m wide southbound separated cycleway on the east side of Antigua Street. This transitions to a 2.2m wide cycle lane south of Moorhouse Avenue.
  • A pedestrian and cycle crossing point in the middle of the block, near the entrance to Parakiore and just south of Halkett Street.
  • Two raised speed thresholds (outside 184 Antigua Street and 230b Antigua Street) to encourage motorists to travel at a safe speed. The road has been operating at 30km/h since the construction of Parakiore started, and will remain at 30km/h during construction. Following the works, the speed will become 50km/h again; however, it is anticipated that, given the design of the road, the actual operating speed will be closer to 30km/h.
  • On-street parking on the west side of Antigua Street only. All parking on the east side will be removed to allow enough space for the new separated cycleway and to provide clearer sightlines from driveways, making a safer environment for cyclists and pedestrians.
  • Renewed and widened footpath on the west side of Antigua Street to accommodate the expected increased pedestrian use, driven by Parakiore Recreation and Sport Centre. The footpath will run adjacent to the northbound cycle lane.
  • New landscaping along Antigua Street which includes new rain gardens and street trees.
  • Installation of two P10 parking spaces on Halkett Street outside Antigua Food Bar to assist with customers who require short-term convenience parking when visiting businesses along Antigua Street. 

See the full work notice here(external link) or read the information on traffic impacts below.

Night works – Sunday 18 May to Friday 23 May 2025 

  • Works will begin on Sunday 18 May 2025 with investigations to identify and locate existing underground services, as well as any potential clashes or risks to construction. This work will take place overnight, across five nights, 7pm to 6am, ending on the morning of Friday 23 May. A full road closure will be in place overnight on Antigua Street between Moorhouse Avenue and St Asaph Street during these dates.
  • There will be no access in or out during this time for vehicles and cyclists – please allow extra travel time and follow the signposted detour routes (see map below).
  • Pedestrian access will be maintained during this time. 

Antigua St Full closure detour map

One-way system – Monday 26 May to early November

  • From Monday 26 May, we will be starting construction of the Antigua Street cycle connection works and watermain upgrade.
  • A temporary northbound one-way traffic management system will be installed on Antigua Street, between St Asaph Street and Moorhouse Avenue, to ensure the safety of both road users and our crews,
  • Southbound traffic will be detoured via Hagley Avenue to Selwyn Street to Moorhouse Avenue – please allow extra travel time and follow the detour signs (see map below).
  • Business access will be provided from St Asaph Street into Antigua Street.
  • Southbound traffic will be unaffected but are reminded not to exceed the 30km/h speed limit. Depending on the conditions, it could be appropriate to reduce your speed further.
  • Cyclists will be able to access Antigua Street in both directions. Southbound cyclists will use a temporary separated cycle lane on the east side of the road, and northbound cyclists will share the traffic lane with northbound vehicles. This means that people on bikes need to ride in the lane as there is no room for vehicles to pass.
  • While cyclists may not be travelling at 30km/h, drivers, please be patient; this will only add a few seconds to your journey time.
  • We will need to restrict some on-street parking to ensure we have a safe working space so will place no parking cones out before we start work. We will aim to minimise parking restrictions as much as possible.
  • Please allow extra travel time if you will be affected by the one-way system.

One way system map Antigua Street

For details on improvements being made to the shared path on the Antigua Street footbridge, view the project page here.(external link)

This project was consulted on between 15 February and 15 March 2022. The consultation included proposed improvements to the Antigua Street footbridge(external link), which are also being constructed in 2025 as a separate project, between early June and early July.

The Antigua Street cycle connection received 117 submissions, and the Antigua Street footbridge received 95 submissions.

The majority of submitters commented on both projects, with a small number commenting on just one.

See the details of the consultation(external link).

Decision

A hearing was held on Monday 11 April 2022. You can read the meeting agenda and minutes(external link).

The Hearings Panel recommendation was approved by Council on 12 May 2022. Read the minutes(external link).