Working in Bishopdale and Papanui

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.

Our construction programme runs from 6 August to the end of November. Find out more information on the start works notice(external link) or see below for a summary of the dates and traffic impacts.

Detour map

From 12 August to 30 November 2024, when the eastbound one-way system is in place on Langdons Road, there will be signposted detours to redirect westbound traffic around the closure points. At times during this period, two-way traffic will be reinstated.

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.

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

Why an upgrade is needed

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.

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 pedestrian 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 gates will not be commissioned for use until after work at all three crossings is complete, in early to mid-2025.

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.

Why an upgrade is needed

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 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.

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.

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.

The new signalised pedestrian crossings and automatic gates will not be commissioned for use until after work at all three crossings is complete, in early-to-mid 2025.

Our construction programme at Langdons Road railway crossing runs from 18 September to early December and includes a nine-day road closure at the railway crossing. The start works notice will be posted when it has been published online and distributed to nearby residents and businesses. See below for a summary of the dates and traffic impacts.

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 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.

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

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.