Project purpose
The NZ Transport Agency is upgrading State Highway 1 (SH1) between Belfast and Hornby (The Western Corridor). This highway is critical for supporting economic growth, reducing congestion and improving safety in our region. For this reason it has been identified by the Government as a Road of National Significance (RoNS). Traffic volumes on the Western Corridor are increasing and this traffic situation has been amplified recently by the Canterbury earthquakes. To improve travel times, efficiency and safety on this section of highway, NZTA is proposing to widen the state highway to four lanes. This work is planned in phases. The section between Sawyers Arms Road and The Groynes will be the third phase.
Benefits
- Improved safety due to a raised central median, reduced access onto the highway, and no right turns across opposing traffic.
- Improved travel time and reliability to and from Christchurch International Airport, greater Christchurch and the wider Canterbury region.
- Environmental benefits resulting from better stormwater runoff management the and landscaping the highway corridor.
- Improved landscaping, street lighting and enhanced destination signs.
Features
Johns Road between The Groynes and Sawyers Arms Road will be widened to provide two lanes in each direction with a central median. The design includes a roundabout at Clearwater Avenue and the development of a one-way service lane between Wilkinsons Road and Gardiners Road – this will improve safety by minimise the number of properties with direct access onto the highway.
- Improved alignment of the highway
- Improved safety at intersections by restricting traffic movements across the highway including:
- Left turn in only at Gardiners Road (southbound)
- Left turn out only at Wilkinsons Road (southbound)
- Left turn in and out at Greywacke Road (northbound)
(N.B. right turns will not be possible at these intersections)
- New roundabout at Clearwater Avenue
- Underground power and telephone lines
- Improved street lighting
- Landscaped highway corridor
What happens next?
The project design will be further developed and necessary planning consent approvals will be sought in late 2011.
Construction of this section is still some time away. The earliest possible start date is late 2012, subject to property acquisition, consents and funding.
The NZTA anticipate project completion in 2014.
The SH1 Johns Road from The Groynes to Sawyers Arms Road project is part of the Western Corridor, a roads of national significance project. More information on the Western Corridor can be found on the Western Corridor website.
Sawyers Arms Road intersection
Greywacke Road and Wilkinsons Road intersections
Gardiners Road intersection
Clearwater Avenue intersection
