Project purpose
The Western Corridor (SH1) connects the northern and southern Canterbury areas with Christchurch International Airport, and runs between Belfast in the north to the large industrial area at Hornby in the south.
This project involves upgrading the Carmen Road and Masham Road sections of SH1, from Waterloo Road to Yaldhurst Road.
Benefits
Reduce congestion. The additional lanes will help reduce congestion and improve travel times. Dedicated right-turn lanes, extended two-lane approaches and light phasing at the Waterloo Road / Carmen Road intersection will reduce queuing, improving travelling times.
Improve access to the airport and Hornby. By reducing congestion, access to the airport and the industrial areas around Hornby will be improved for people and goods.
Improve safety for motorists. The separation of northbound and southbound traffic using a raised median will improve safety. Changes to the intersections with Waterloo Road, Tirangi Street, Halwyn Drive and Chestnut Avenue will also improve safety for local residents and businesses and traffic travelling through Hornby.
Improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists. A 3-metre wide off-road joint pedestrian/cycle path from Kintyre Drive to Waterloo Road (in the vicinity of Hornby Primary School and Hornby High School) will improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists (particularly school pupils).
Improve the environment. Improved management of storm-water run-off from the highway will provide environmental benefits.
Improve road appearance. Relocating overhead services underground and landscaping the highway corridor will improve the appearance of the highway for residents and motorists.
Features
- Widening Masham and Carmen Roads to become a 4-laned road with a raised median between Yaldhurst Road and Waterloo Road.
- Upgrading the intersection of Carmen Road and Waterloo Road to improve traffic safety and efficiency by:
- creating additional dedicated through-lanes for both north and south bound traffic
- introducing dedicated right-turn lanes from Carmen Road to Waterloo Road in both directions
- extending the two lane approaches along Waterloo Road to the Carmen Road intersection
- Making Tirangi Street, Halwyn Drive and Chestnut Avenue left in / left out only intersections.
- Establishing 1.5m on-road cycle lanes on both sides of the road and a 3m off-road joint pedestrian / cycle path from Kintyre Drive to Waterloo Road on the western side.
- Replacing deep-dish gutters with conventional kerb and channel.
- Relocating overhead services, such as power and telephone lines, underground.
- Landscaping the roading corridor.
- Inclusion of the Carmen Road sewer upgrade for the Christchurch City Council.
This project begins construction in March 2012 and will be completed by March 2015.
