We’re building the next stage of the Nor'West Arc cycleway to make it safer and easier for people to cycle in Bryndwr. We're also upgrading wastewater pipes in the area at the same time.
Sign up for updates about the Nor'West Arc cycleway
In January 2025, work began on constructing the northernmost section of Te Ara O-Rakipaoa Nor'West Arc cycleway. We're also completing wastewater pipe renewals in the area, installing a new stormwater network, making water supply upgrades, and completing a street renewal on Aorangi Road.
These projects have been programmed together to ensure a coordinated approach to work in the area. The work is being completed in three stages, with the full project scope expected to be complete by mid-2026.
View the traffic impacts drop-down tab below for information on the current phase of work and associated impacts.
Businesses are open
Businesses are open throughout the works, and customers are encouraged to continue visiting as usual.
Some customer car parking is available on Aorangi Road, south of the intersection – follow the 'customer parking' signs. Footpath detours are also in place to ensure safe pedestrian access to businesses and through the work area.
Work to construct the next section of the Nor’West Arc cycleway has been timed with significant Three Waters upgrades, to ensure a coordinated approach to work in the area.
The construction programme is scheduled to begin on 13 January and is expected to wrap up around mid-2026. The work will be delivered in three stages.
Key works for all three stages of the project
- We will be replacing old wastewater pipes on Wairakei Road, Aorangi Road, and Matsons Avenue, installing a new stormwater network, and making water supply upgrades.
- We will be extending the cycleway along the full length of Aorangi Road and Matsons Avenue, connected by a short section on Condell Avenue.
- Between the intersection of Ilam/Aorangi roads and Truman Road, the cycleway will take the form of a shared path, due to the narrow width of the road through this section.
- From Truman Road, the remainder of the cycleway will be two-way (bi-directional). See the image below for an example of a two-way cycleway. Note that the previous section of the Nor'West Arc cycleway instead takes the form of single cycle lanes that run along each side of the road.
- The cycleway will be located along the northwestern side of Aorangi Road, the western side of Condell Avenue and the southeastern side of Matsons Avenue.
- We will be making safety improvements at the intersection of Aorangi Road and Wairakei Road. These include:
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- A signalised and raised pedestrian crossing, making it safer and easier for cyclists (and pedestrians) to get across Wairakei Road. By raising the level of pedestrian crossings, it reminds drivers and cyclists to slow down so they can stop for people at the crossing. It also makes the people crossing more visible to drivers.
- Layout changes at the Aorangi Road entry/exit points that allow left-in, left-out only. This will prevent traffic (besides cyclists) from continuing across to the next section of Aorangi Road, whether approaching from the north or south. The alternative route north would be via Greers Road and for traffic heading south, Ilam Road – both which can be reached via Wairakei Road. The new layout will make this busy intersection safer for everyone.
- View the design of the intersection here. [PNG, 257 KB]
- We will be completing a street renewal on Aorangi Road.
Example of a two-way cycleway
The project is being completed in three stages, as shown on the map below.
- Stage 1: Aorangi Road, between Brookside Terrace and Condell Avenue; this includes the Wairakei Road/Aorangi Road intersection. Isaac Construction is the contractor for Stage One works (spanning approximately January to October 2025).
- Stage 2: Aorangi Road, between Ilam Road and Brookside Terrace.
- Stage 3: Condell Avenue and Matsons Avenue to Harewood Road.
Stages may overlap, whereby some work continues in an area while work at the next area starts.
The entire project is expected to be completed in mid-2026.
Phasing of work
Each stage will also have different phases of work, marked by distinct changes in things such as the work area and the traffic management in place. We will sent out Start Work notices for each phase of work, which will provide the specific details of the work and its impacts.
Stage 1, phase 2 work is underway and centres around the Aorangi Road/Wairakei Road intersection, as well as the northern section of Aorangi Road.
We'll keep up-to-date information on the impacts of the current phase in the tab below.
Throughout the project, there will be temporary traffic management in place to keep road users and contractors safe. Please take care to follow signage and reduce speeds when travelling through the work site.
Stage 1, phase 2– 3 February to end of July 2025
Phase 2 update
The transition back to two-way traffic on Wairakei Road was scheduled for mid-June but is now expected to take place by the end of July. This delay is due to a combination of wet weather, challenging ground conditions, and higher than usual groundwater levels. These factors have required additional care during excavation and construction, particularly around critical work like manhole connections and trench backfilling. We’re sorry for any inconvenience caused by this delay.
Additionally, phase 3 work on Aorangi Road, south of Wairakei Road, is due to start in 26 May, overlapping phase 2 work and traffic impacts. The combined impacts in place until end of July are as follows:
Wairakei Road temporary one-way system:
- The citybound lane on Wairakei Road is open to traffic travelling towards the city in a southeast direction.
- The airport-bound lane, between Pitcairn Crescent and Jennifer Street, will remain closed until the end of July. There is no access through this section for traffic travelling northwest on Wairakei Road. Please continue to follow the detours currently in place. See the traffic detour map for phase 2 on the next tab.
- The airport-bound bus route on the Metro Port-to-Port (#8) service will continue to include a detour via Greers Road, Condell Avenue and Blighs Road.
Aorangi Road (north) one-way system:
- Aorangi Road (north) remains one-way, with entry from Condell Avenue only and left-turn exit only onto Wairakei Road. This temporary traffic management will extend until the end of August. Detours are in place.
Southwest approach to Wairakei intersection:
- The existing closure at the southwest approach to the intersection of Wairakei Road and Aorangi Road will remain in place. From 26 May until the end of July, the closure will extend to just north of Colwyn Street, with access maintained for residents and businesses only.
- Workers will be on-site Monday to Saturday, 7am to 6pm, but the lane and road closures will be in place at all times.
More information can be found on the latest start work notice(external link).
Stage 1, phase 2 – 3 February to mid-2025
Customer car parking
Signposted customer car parking is available on both Wairakei and Aorangi roads. See the 'P' marked on the map below for where to find customer parking on Aorangi Road, south of the intersection. Road signage will also direct you – look for arrowed signs that say 'Customer parking'.
Note:
- Aorangi Bakery has temporarily relocated to 263 Greers Road during the works.
- Earcare has temporarily relocated to Elmswood Retirement Village at 23/131 Wairakei Road.
Traffic detours
The map below shows which roads are being used for detours for airport-bound traffic during phase 2, when a temporary one-way system is in place on Wairakei Road.
Cyclists can either take these detour routes, their own route through other local roads, or dismount at the closure points and walk their bikes through the closure area, via the footpath detours.
Bus detour map
The Metro Port-to-Port (#8)(external link) bus service will include a detour via Greers Road, Condell Avenue and Blighs Road on the airport-bound route. More information is covered below.
Signage is displayed on affected bus stops. View the map of the bus detour, affected stops and temporary stops [PNG, 254 KB].
Visit the Port-to-Port (#8) service webpage on the Metro website(external link).
Keep in the loop
Subscribers of our general project updates(external link) will be notified by email when the project moves into a new stage/phase and there are changes to traffic management and the work area layout. We may also let you know about key milestones we've achieved.
If you would like to receive more information about the project's progress from our contractor, Isaac Construction, you can sign up(external link) to their email updates, which will be sent more regularly. Additionally, residents or businesses located within, or close to, the work area can sign up for the contractor's site-specific text alerts and email updates on the work(external link).
The cycleway route
Te Ara O-Rakipaoa Nor'West Arc cycleway connects cyclists from Cashmere to Bryndwr, via Spreydon, Middleton, Riccarton and Ilam. The route begins at Princess Margaret Hospital in Cashmere and is currently open as far as Jellie Park Recreation and Sport Centre on Ilam Road.
The cycleway provides a safer route for cyclists to get to school, university, work, pools and gym, parks, and local shops. Making it safer for people to bike helps reduce congestion, lowers emissions and makes it easier for cyclists to get around.
New section – under construction
North of the intersection of Aorangi and Ilam roads, we're extending the cycleway along the full length of Aorangi Road, then onto Condell Avenue and up Matsons Avenue to Harewood Road. Find more information in the sections above about how this work will be staged.
When this section has been constructed, the route will be complete, except for a short section at approximately the midpoint of the route, along Annex Road.
We will come back to the Annex Road section, between Birmingham Road and Blenheim Road, at a later date. We'll need to work alongside KiwiRail to improve safety and access at the level crossing that intersects the route.
