Working in Bishopdale and Papanui : Christchurch City Council

Find relevant project information on key works in the area. Projects are marked on the map below – work is under way at locations 1 and 2.

From 7 to 29 September, the Harewood Road railway crossing will be closed day and night to all traffic, pedestrians and cyclists, as will the southern end of Restell Street. The closure will also impact the Northern Line cycleway. We’re working with KiwiRail on completing significant rail renewal works and safety upgrades. Please expect delays.

See the detour maps in the Harewood Road section below to plan your journey through the area. Businesses are open as usual.

Note: During the closure, Langdons Road (at the Greers Road end) is back to two-way traffic. A temporary lane closure was in place to allow work on the traffic light project (at Greers/Langdons intersection). But to help reduce traffic impacts across the area, two-way traffic will be available until 14 October.

Get the latest on work happening in Bishopdale and Papanui

Northern Line cycleway railway level crossing upgrades

We’re working with KiwiRail to complete essential renewals and safety upgrades at the railway level crossings on Harewood, Langdons and Sawyers Arms roads.

This work will include the renewal of the railway tracks and foundations on Harewood Road, and the installation of new signalised pedestrian crossings and automatic railway gates to support the Northern Line cycleway, which runs along the railway corridor.

Note: The new signals and gates cannot be commissioned for use until after work at all three crossings is complete, in early to mid-2025.

Find more information in the sections below.

All project information

1. Greers Road / Langdons Road intersection upgrade (active)

We’re making it safer and easier to use the intersection of Langdons Road and Greers Road in Bishopdale by installing new traffic lights and modifying the road layout. The adjacent Reynolds Avenue will become left in/left out only at Greers Road.

Our construction programme runs from 6 August to the end of November. For the most up-to-date information on the timing of different traffic impacts, see the table below. Other information can be found on the start works notice(external link).

Date	Traffic impact
6 August to 11 August 2024	Shoulder closures and footpath detours. 30km/h speed limit.
12 August to 6 September 2024	There is a one-way system for eastbound traffic on Langdons Road between Greers Road and Morrison Avenue. A signposted detour is in place for westbound traffic – see the detour route on the map below. There is no access to Reynolds Avenue at Greers Road – please follow the signposted detours. Footpath detours. 30km/h speed limit.
7 September to 14 October 2024	There is no access to Reynolds Avenue at Greers Road – please follow the signposted detours. Shoulder closures and footpath detours. 30km/h speed limit.
15 October until end of November 2024	There is a one-way system for eastbound traffic on Langdons Road between Greers Road and Morrison Avenue. A signposted detour is in place for westbound traffic – see the detour route on the map below. No access to Reynolds Avenue at Greers Road – please follow the signposted detours. Footpath detours. 30km/h speed limit.

Detour map

When the eastbound one-way system is in place on Langdons Road, there will be signposted detours to redirect westbound traffic around the lane closure.

A map showing the primary detour route can be found below. Detours for residents will also be signposted but for simplicity, the map just shows ‘resident access’ points with orange arrow markers.

Greers Road Langdons Road intersection upgrade detour

Thanks for your patience as we're working in the area.

Why an upgrade is needed

Greers Road / Langdons Road Approximately 29,000 people travel through this area every day. The intersection has faced increased traffic flow due to the development and expansion of businesses in the area.

The installation of traffic lights will reduce delays for turning traffic, improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists, and help to reduce the volume of traffic shortcutting through adjacent neighbourhood streets.

Safety upgrades

We're making this area way safer and easier to use, by:

Adding new turning lanes and cycle lanes on all approaches of the Greers Road/ Langdons Road intersection to improve traffic flow and cycle safety.
Installing signalised pedestrian crossings to help people of all ages to cross the road safely.
Constructing new footpaths and shared paths.
Updating the layout of the adjacent intersection of Greers Road and Reynolds Avenue. This intersection will become left in/left out only, with right turns restricted to mitigate potential safety and operational issues that could occur due to the close proximity of the two intersections.

The work also includes:

Underground utility works.
Kerb and channel replacement.
New road surfacing.
Line markings.

Consultation and decision-making

The elected Council approved these plans in February 2024, following a period of public consultation(external link) in October 2023.

The approved plans were endorsed by the Waimāero Fendalton-Waimairi-Harewood and Waipapa Papanui-Innes-Central Community Boards(external link) in December 2023.

2. Harewood Road railway crossing upgrade (active)

We’re upgrading the Harewood Road railway level crossing to improve safety and access for pedestrians and cyclists using the Northern Line cycleway, which runs along the railway corridor.

We’re working with KiwiRail to deliver a range of safety upgrades, including a signalised pedestrian crossing that will make it safer and easier to get across the busy road. We'll also be replacing the full length of the railway track across the road and installing new foundations.

In addition, automatic railway gates will be installed to make it safer for pedestrians/cyclists on Harewood Road to cross the tracks. The gates will also be used by people using the cycleway, as it crosses from being on the western railway corridor to the eastern side at Harewood Road.

The new signalised pedestrian crossings and automatic railway gates will not be commissioned for use until after work at all three crossings is complete, in early to mid-2025. This is because the new pedestrian crossings, automatic railway gates and new flashing lights and bells have been designed in one new interlocking signalling system across Harewood Road, Langdons Road and Sawyers Arms Road railway crossings. Upgrade works at all three crossings must be completed before the switch over can happen from the old signalling system to the new one.

Our construction programme at the Harewood Road railway crossing runs from 7 September to mid-October and starts with a three-week road closure at the railway crossing.

Find more information on the start works notice(external link) or see below for a summary of the traffic impacts.

Date	Traffic impact
7 September to 29 September 2024	Full road closure in place at the crossing (day and night): Restell Street is closed between Harewood Road and Winston Avenue. No vehicle, cyclist or pedestrian access. Please follow the signposted detours.
29 September to early October 2024	Stop/go from 7am to 7pm: One lane at a time under temporary traffic lights, due to a lane closure at the crossing. 30km/h speed limit. No impact overnight.
Early October to mid-October 2024	Minor traffic management at the crossing: Regular two-way traffic is maintained. 30km/h speed limit.

Detours

The following detours are in place during the road closure at the Harewood Road railway crossing.

Traffic detours

Harewood Road railway crossing closure traffic detour

Pedestrian and cyclist detour

Harewood Railway Crossing Closure Pedestrian Cyclist Detour

Why an upgrade is needed

Man cycling on the Northern Line cycleway. The average daily traffic on Harewood Road, recorded at a traffic counter(external link) beside the railway crossing, is 13,840.

On the Northern Line cycleway, which crosses Harewood Road, there are more than 500 daily cycle trips recorded on average (data is recorded at the Fendalton Road railway crossing).

Students walking on foot to Papanui High School – just north of Harewood Road and accessible by the Northern Line cycleway – will also benefit from the signalised crossing.

Due to the higher traffic volumes and risk at Harewood Road, we planned more significant railway crossing upgrades into the design of the cycleway at this location, to ensure the safety of cyclists and pedestrians.

Significant track renewal works will also be included in the Harewood Road railway crossing upgrade to improve the road and track's resilience. These measures were required to comply with current KiwiRail standards.

We’re doing the upgrades now, as our programme and resourcing are coordinated with KiwiRail, who have availability for the Harewood Road and Langdons Road works in 2024.

Renewals and safety upgrades

We're installing:

A new concrete slab foundation across the road with a full-length railway track replacement.
New traffic signals and foundations, to create a signalised pedestrian/cycleway crossing.
Automatic pedestrian railway gates and foundations, for safe access across the railway tracks on both sides of the crossing.
Additional flashing lights and bells.
Fencing to guide pedestrians into the safe crossing points.
Advanced detector loops on the cycleway that connect with the signals.
A raised platform on Restell Street to encourage safe speeds.

We’ll also be relocating underground utilities, widening the shared path areas, making landscaping enhancements and completing a range of engineering improvements to the railway crossing.

These upgrades will help to ensure everyone can get to where they need to go, safely and easily.

3. Langdons Road railway crossing upgrade

We’re upgrading the Langdons Road railway level crossing to improve safety and access for pedestrians and cyclists using the Northern Line cycleway, which runs along the railway corridor.

Langdons Road railway level crossing We’re working with KiwiRail to deliver a range of safety upgrades, including a signalised pedestrian crossing that will make it safer and easier to get across the busy road. We'll also be installing automatic pedestrian gates to make it safer for pedestrians/cyclists on Langdons Road to cross the tracks.

Our construction programme at Langdons Road railway crossing runs from 18 September to early December and includes a nine-day full road closure at the railway crossing. Find more information on the start works notice (external link)or see below for a summary of the traffic impacts.

Date	Traffic impact
18 September to 29 September 2024	Evening stop/go from 8pm to 6pm: One lane at a time under temporary traffic lights, due to a lane closure at the crossing. 30km/h speed limit. No impact during the day.
30 September to 5 October 2024	Evening stop/go from 7pm to 10pm: One lane at a time under temporary traffic lights, due to a lane closure at the crossing 30km/h speed limit. Night road closure from 10pm to 6am at the crossing No vehicle, cyclist or pedestrian access. Please follow the signposted detours. No impact during the day.
6 October (6am) to 14 October (6pm) 2024	Full road closure at the crossing (day and night): No vehicle, cyclist or pedestrian access. Please follow the signposted detours.
15 October until early December 2024	Evening stop/go from 7pm to 10pm: One lane at a time under temporary traffic lights, due to a lane closure at the crossing. 30km/h speed limit. Night road closure from 10pm to 6pm at the crossing: No vehicle, cyclist or pedestrian access. Please follow the signposted detours. No impact during the day.

Why an upgrade is needed

The average daily traffic on Langdons Road, recorded at a traffic counter(external link) beside the railway crossing, is 12,535.

On the Northern Line cycleway, which crosses Langdons Road, there are more than 500 daily cycle trips recorded on average (data is recorded at the Fendalton Road railway crossing).

Additionally, students walking on foot to Papanui High School – just north of Langdons Road and accessible by the Northern Line cycleway – will benefit from the signalised crossing.

As with Harewood and Sawyers Arms roads, Langdons Road has higher traffic volumes and risk than other roads along the cycleway route.

Due to this, we planned more significant railway crossing upgrades into the design of the cycleway at this location, to ensure the safety of cyclists and pedestrians.

These measures were required to comply with current KiwiRail standards.

We’re doing the upgrades now, as our programme and resourcing is coordinated with KiwiRail, who have availability for the Harewood Road and Langdons Road works in 2024.

Safety upgrades

We're installing:

New traffic signals and foundations, to create a signalised pedestrian/cycleway crossing.
Automatic pedestrian railway gates for safe access across the railway tracks on both sides of the crossing.
Additional flashing lights and bells.
Fencing to guide pedestrians into the safe crossing points.
Advanced detector loops on the cycleway that connect with the signals.
Upgraded street lighting.

We’ll also be widening the shared path areas, making landscaping enhancements and completing a range of engineering improvements to the railway crossing.

These upgrades will help to ensure everyone can get to where they need to go, safely and easily.

4. Sawyers Arms Road railway crossing upgrade

We’re upgrading the Sawyers Arms Road railway level crossing to improve safety and access for pedestrians and cyclists using the Northern Line cycleway, which runs along the railway corridor.

We’re working with KiwiRail to deliver a range of safety upgrades, including a signalised pedestrian crossing that will make it safer and easier to get across the busy road.

Our construction programme for Sawyers Arms Road railway crossing is yet to be confirmed but is expected to begin in early 2025. It would include a similar road closure timeframe as the Langdons Road railway crossing.

Why an upgrade is needed

The average daily traffic on Sawyers Arms Road, recorded at a traffic counter(external link) beside the railway crossing, is 5,310.

On the Northern Line cycleway, which intersects Sawyers Arms Road, there are more than 500 daily cycle trips recorded on average (data is recorded at the Fendalton Road railway crossing).

Students walking on foot to Papanui High School – just south of Sawyers Arms Road and accessible by the Northern Line cycleway – will also benefit from the signalised crossing.

While Sawyers Arms Road has higher traffic volumes and risk than other roads along the cycleway route, it has less than half the traffic volume of Harewood and Langdons roads.

To reflect this, the signalised crossing was planned into the design of the cycleway at this location, but not the automatic pedestrian gates. Instead, design features help to ensure pedestrians and cyclists have a clear view of the track in both directions prior to crossing.

These measures comply with current KiwiRail standards.

Safety upgrades

Look for trains signage at a railway crossing We're installing:

New traffic signals and foundations, to create a signalised pedestrian/cycleway crossing.
Barriers (pictured) fixed with ‘Look for trains’ signage, designed to ensure pedestrians and cyclists have a clear view of the track in both directions prior to crossing.
Additional flashing lights and bells.
Fencing to guide pedestrians into the safe crossing points.
Advanced detector loops on the cycleway that connect with the signals.
Upgraded street lighting.

We’ll also be widening the shared path areas, making landscaping enhancements and completing a range of engineering improvements to the railway crossing.

Where there is a painted cycle lane connecting the Northern Line cycleway with the Papanui Parallel cycleway, we will construct a separate cycle lane to upgrade this important link in the cycleway network.

These upgrades will help to ensure everyone can get to where they need to go, safely and easily.

5. Cranford Street / Main North Road recabling works

We are replacing the traffic signals and cabling on the Cranford Street and Main North Road intersection, as they are at the end of their useful lives.

In late August we carried out investigation works at the intersection to prepare for the full scope of works. The programming of this future work is currently paused, in consideration of the other high priority road and rail works in the area.

The works include, but are not limited to:

Installation of new ducting
Installation of new traffic poles
Reinstatement of footpath and pavement
Concrete cutting and pouring for islands
Road marking and signage.

A start works notice will be distributed in the area before any work starts. This page will also be updated when any programme timing is confirmed.

Traffic impacts at a glance

The chart below shows how the programme and traffic impacts have been planned across the various locations between August and December. As work on the Sawyers Arms Road railway crossing is not planned until early 2025, it is not included here. Similarly, the recabling works at the intersection of Cranford Street and Main North Road have not been programmed.

To view the traffic impacts for each project separately, see the sections above.

	Minor traffic management During the dates shown in yellow, there is minor traffic management, such as road shoulder closures and 30km/h speed limits, however, regular two-way traffic will be maintained.
	24-hour one-way During the dates shown in pink, there is a 24-hour one-way system on Langdons Road from Greers Road to Morrison Avenue for eastbound traffic only. A signposted detour is in place for westbound traffic. There is also no access to Reynolds Avenue at Greers Road, with detours available.
	Stop/go During the dates shown in orange, there is a stop/go at the railway crossing. This will allow one lane at a time under temporary traffic lights. At the Harewood Road crossing, this will be between 7am and 7pm, and at the Langdons Road crossing, this will be between 8pm and 6am. There are no impacts outside of these hours.
	Evening stop/go and night closure During the dates shown in green, there is an evening stop/go at the Langdons crossing between 7pm and 10pm. This will allow one lane at a time under temporary traffic lights. Then, from 10pm to 6am, there is a night road closure, with signposted detours. There are no impacts during the day.
	24-hour road closure During the dates shown in red, there is a 24-hour road closure at the crossing. Signposted detour routes will be in place, supported by temporary traffic lights to manage traffic flow.

Benefits of shared path cycleways

Woman walking her dog on a shared path. Shared path cycleways make it safer and easier to bike and scooter around Christchurch, while also providing convenient routes for walking or running. Whether used as a way to get to work or school, or for recreation or even walking the dog, our major cycleway routes enable people to enjoy fun, affordable and healthy travel.

Cycle numbers are continuing to grow as as more routes link up different parts of the city. We want to make Christchurch a more liveable city and make it easier for people who are choosing cycling as their main mode of transport.

As our population grows, it benefits everyone when more people take up cycling to get around, as it helps to reduce congestion and emissions. When we construct or upgrade cycleways, we also make improvements that benefit the whole community.

For the Northern Line railway crossing upgrades, we've programmed our work to include KiwiRail renewals, such as the replacement of the train tracks and foundations on Harewood Road. This will ensure the long-term resilience of the railway level crossing, while reducing disruption to the area by combining all the work into one project.

Other community benefits include upgrades that will make it easier and safer to cross both the road and the railway tracks, improving access to local schools and retirement villages. We're also making landscaping enhancements. With the new signalised pedestrian crossings, the road environment at the cycleway crossing points will also be less hazardous for drivers travelling through the area.

Working in Bishopdale and Papanui

Road closure at Harewood Road railway crossing

Get the latest on work happening in Bishopdale and Papanui

Northern Line cycleway railway level crossing upgrades

All project information