Frequently asked questions

Page updated on 6 December 2022

2022 public consultation - key questions

What are you doing about safety for tamariki on Dunns Crossing Road?

We all want our tamariki to feel safe walking and cycling to school. We have met with West Rolleston Primary School, Selwyn District Council and Ministry of Education representatives to discuss traffic and safety. Dunns Crossing and Walkers Roads are arterial roads supporting both local and cross district travel. Traffic growth on these roads is expected due to the rapid growth of Rolleston. Selwyn District Council is planning work accordingly including:

Upgrading the existing 1.5m wide footpath on the east side of Dunns Crossing Road north of Burnham School Road to a 2.5m wide shared path in early 2023
Lowering the speed limit outside the school to 30km/h with supporting signage, crossing platforms and road markings
In the longer term, new traffic signals will be installed at the intersection of Dunns Crossing and Burnham School Roads to control traffic and provide safer crossing points for tamariki and people using school facilities.

We will continue to work with West Rolleston Primary School, Selwyn District Council and the Ministry of Education on safe travel outcomes for everyone.

Will the changes make cycling a safer option – on the flyover and at the roundabout?

The proposed flyover will have 3m wide shared paths on both sides connecting with existing and potential future paths planned by Selwyn District Council. The flyover meets accessible guidelines of a 1 in 12 gradient, the same as Prestons Road Bridge in Redwood. The next phase of the project includes designing safe approaches, crossing points and connections for people using the share paths. A shorter more direct route is the preference for cyclists, instead of a skewed flyover landing further east along Jones Road and having to backtrack to businesses, sports clubs and workplaces on the west side of the industrial area.

A roundabout at the SH1 Dunns Crossing and Walkers Road intersection is safer for people cycling and walking than the existing uncontrolled intersection but still has a degree of risk. We had a large amount of feedback requesting safer walking and cycling access at the roundabout as well as a cycle connection between Rolleston and Burnham. We are investigating if further improvements can be made as demand for the Burnham to Rolleston Cycleway (a future Council project) grows along with possible land use development. This could be an underpass under the highway which would link up with the Burnham to Rolleston Cycleway.

Are plans future focused – allowing for four highway lanes, more multi-modal travel and possibly commuter rail?

The straight flyover design provides clearance for over dimension vehicles to pass underneath and there is sufficient space to add highway lanes in the future if needed. The flyover support piers have been positioned accordingly. The pinch points that would restrict widening of the highway are further south of the flyover, where the rail corridor and adjacent properties would make this a challenging undertaking.

The recommended plan offers improved and better integrated travel options than what was initially consulted on. The updated design intentionally maximises and preserves land for future transport facilities such as a Park’n’Ride. This includes two parcels of land – on Kidman Street (next to the flyover and existing bus stops) and on the industrial side – the southeast corner of Jones and Hoskyns Roads that could be used for a future rail station if needed.

Will local roads be upgraded?

Our planning has looked at the wider network and integrates with Selwyn District Council’s plans. The Council’s Draft 2024-2034 Long term Plan process allows the timing of local road improvements to be changed or new projects added, to ensure the whole transport system operates effectively. We are working collaboratively with the Council so local road improvements can align as plans for the highway progress. Refer below for information on local road upgrades.

Why are you recommending a straight flyover – why not the skew?

We have reassessed all the options alongside ongoing investigations and recommend a straight flyover mainly due to:

Community feedback saying people wanted access to all of the industrial/business area, rather than landing in the east and having to backtrack
A more direct connection being the preference for cyclists and emergency services
Keeping Jones Road continuous for freight and business access
Available space – bridge embankments, underground services and proximity to rail
Safety – an underpass can feel unsafe for pedestrians, and if traffic is queued, drivers can’t see as far as they need to
Size of structure – 114m versus 166m long – impacts on private land and property access, buildability, carbon footprint and environmental impacts, construction time and community disruption.

It’s worth mentioning, the longer length of the skewed flyover requires very long bridge spans (max. 60m on a skew versus max. 35m straight) that limit where bridge piers can be placed in relation to the existing highway and rail lines.

Won't more traffic lights on Rolleston Drive North create congestion and delays for city-bound motorists using the flyover?

The existing traffic signals are creating significant delays adding to people’s travel time and posing serious concerns for both road and rail safety.

Comparatively with the straight flyover, we can coordinate the traffic signals and the free left turn onto the highway from Hoskyns Road, so travel time reduces by around 1 to 2 minutes.

The greatest gains will be for people travelling between the two sides of Rolleston. In the evening, delays travelling from industrial and business areas to the residential side via the flyover are expected to reduce by 5 to 10 minutes.

We have designed the recommended flyover and traffic signals to provide a coordinated route for people traveling to the city.

The plan for the flyover is for two lanes into the industrial/business side to accommodate the largest traffic flows and a single lane into the Rolleston residential/town side. (With 3m wide shared use paths on both sides.)

Overall, everyone will experience much more consistent, reliable and predictable travel times.

For trucks – the Rolleston Interchange at Weedons Road and Jones Road is the intended primary northern access route for large trucks. Smaller local delivery trucks will be fine to use the flyover. With additional highway access at Hoskyns Road and Rolleston Drive North, light vehicle traffic on Jones Road will ease, making it easier for the largest trucks using this route. By keeping Jones Road continuous it will be easier for people and goods to get to more locations in more reliable times.

For comprehensive responses to key community concerns read more here:

SH1 Rolleston 2022 community engagement summary [PDF, 336 KB]

Project general

What changes are you planning to make?

The main improvements to the highway and rail are:

a new two-lane roundabout at Dunns Crossing/Walkers Roads intersection
safety improvements to SH1 intersections – changing Rolleston Drive South, Brookside Drive, and Tennyson Street to left-in left-out only at the highway
a southbound service road for people exiting SH1 to Rolleston town centre, highway amenities, and suburbs
a straight flyover connecting Rolleston township and industrial areas between Rolleston Drive North and Jones Road
an off-ramp from the service road to Rolleston Drive North and to Jones Road via the flyover
a free left turn onto the highway from Hoskyns Road (after the rail crossing)
a new third rail yard track and run-around area for trains heading south.

Why are these changes needed?

Selwyn District is growing rapidly. Based on current travel choices, SH1 through Rolleston could increase from around 24,000 to 33,000 vehicles over the next 20 years or so. Even with improvements to public transport we expect traffic will continue to increase.

Highway traffic volume is almost at ‘tipping point’. Even a small amount of extra traffic could trigger very long delays at the Hoskyns Road and Rolleston Drive North signals.

Increasing traffic will make it harder for people to get between Rolleston township and industrial areas, leading to long delays, rat-running, risk taking and increasing safety issues at uncontrolled intersections.

There is a high safety risk to people at Hoskyns Road rail level crossing. Because the highway is close to the rail line there are short-stacking issues so longer vehicles are unable to queue safely at the rail level crossing barrier. This causes queues, delays, and crash risks – approximately 40 near-misses – resulting in KiwiRail restricting freight trains to an inefficient 40km/h. An increase in rail activity is holding up traffic at the Hoskyns Road rail level crossing.

Increasing traffic is making it difficult for people to turn right safely and cross the highway at Walkers/Dunns Crossing Roads, Rolleston Drive South, Brookside Road and Tennyson Street. There have already been fatal and serious crashes at these intersections. Improving safety will help to prevent these crashes in future.

Have you considered the environment when planning these changes?

From the start of planning, we considered the effects the project would have on the environment, neighbours, and how we can reduce its carbon footprint and emissions. This work is critical in gaining the various consents required before construction starts.

As well as being safer for people, this project will offer more travel options between residential and industrial areas and more sustainable travel choices – such as cycling, scootering and walking. This will help Rolleston to become a more accessible and self-sufficient town.

(Refer to question above: Are plans future focused – allowing for four highway lanes, more multi-modal travel and possibly commuter rail?)

In addition, a Preliminary Infrastructure Sustainability Assessment will be done as part of the business case for Rolleston. The assessment will evaluate the project design against the Infrastructure Sustainability Council’s Infrastructure Sustainability (IS) Essentials rating scheme. The IS Essentials rating scheme encompasses a range of environmental, social, and economic outcomes. We will update the community as information becomes available.

The climate emergency declared by the government means that all public agencies, including Waka Kotahi, must focus on achieving a net carbon zero in New Zealand by 2050.

For more on what Waka Kotahi is doing in this space visit:

Government Policy Statement on Land Transport 2021(external link)

What is the timing for this project?

We are currently in the Detailed Business Case (DBC) stage. The next stage of the project is detailed design starting in 2023. Construction will be in phases and is expected to get underway in 2025. Ongoing development of the proposals and feedback from public consultation is contributing to the preparation of the business case, ready for approval in approximately mid-2023. After the DBC stage, there will be a detailed design stage, which includes property acquisition and consent applications.

The first step in construction will likely be the SH1/Dunns Crossing/Walkers Roads roundabout which needs to be up and running so traffic can safely cross the highway before construction of the flyover begins. The current timeframe is for construction of the flyover to begin in 2027 through to 2030.

How much will this cost and who is paying?

The Government has tagged $125 million for SH1 transport improvements through Rolleston, as part of the $8.7 billion NZ Upgrade Programme. The $125 million includes contingencies for an expected project cost of around $90 million. This is a Crown investment project which Waka Kotahi is tasked to deliver.

What are the benefits?

The main benefits are:

Safer highway intersections through Rolleston. As well as reducing the risk of people being killed and seriously injured in crashes, having a safer transport network will be more efficient. Cashes create delays and stoppages, affecting freight timetables and the reliability of bus and travel schedules. Businesses that rely on the roads will benefit from transport safety improvements. More reliable travel will help support growth.
More travel options between residential and industrial areas. It will be safer to cycle, scooter and walk and people will have more sustainable travel choices.
Improving rail connections and operations will improve efficiencies and help to reduce the number of trucks on the roads.
A more resilient transport network. This will help to support growth and development in Rolleston and Selwyn District, the Canterbury region and South Island.
Improving the connection between Rolleston’s town and industrial areas. This will make it easier for people to shop locally and support local businesses, instead of driving to Christchurch.

How did you come up with this plan?

Planning and investigations started back in 2007 with a strategic transportation study called the Christchurch Rolleston and Environs Transportation Study, or CRETS which showed a multi-modal flyover was needed to improve safety, connections between the residential and industrial sides of Rolleston, as well as provide a more resilient and sustainable road and rail network. The Christchurch Southern Motorway and the Rolleston Interchange at Weedons Road were deliverables from that plan, and now we are developing the flyover connection within Rolleston.

Will construction of this project affect the motorway?

Construction will be in phases and is expected to get underway in 2025. Temporary traffic management will need to be in place to make space for construction. Construction methodology will be developed during the detailed design phase. We will aim to ensure that traffic will still be able to flow in both directions throughout construction – at times detours may need to be in place. Changes to traffic will be communicated with notice closer to the time, and we will do our best to limit disruption as much as possible.

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Rail

How can I access the railway station?

The main entrance to the railway station will be located off Hoskyns Road. Pedestrians will have the added option of being able to access the railway station from the flyover shared path. (This option won’t be accessible for cyclists who will need to use the Hoskyns Road entrance).

What changes are there to rail?

The main improvements are adding a new third rail yard track and run-around area for trains heading south.

View larger map [JPG, 224 KB]

sh1 rolleston recommended rail improvements

Proposed rail improvements indicated by green lines.

More comprehensive information on rail upgrades [PDF, 3.9 MB]

Safety

How will the highway intersection changes make the road safer and flow better?

The most concerning safety risk for people using the highway through Rolleston is traffic turning right against busy highway traffic. Removing right turns at some intersections will reduce risk. The proposed roundabout at SH1/Walkers/Dunns Crossing Roads will mean people can cross and turn right on and off the highway more safely and easily. While the roundabout may cause some slowing of highway traffic – this intersection forms a critical cross-district and key arterial connection.

Will road safety barriers be going in?

Yes, as part of this project, flexible road safety barriers will be installed on the highway centre median through Rolleston to prevent head-on crashes. If you hit a flexible barrier, the steel cables flex, slowing your vehicle and keeping it upright. The barriers absorb the impact of the crash so you and the people with you, don't. They can reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured in crashes by 75 percent.

(In 2018, we engaged with people in Selwyn District and further south, about how we could improve the 46.1km road between Selwyn River and Ashburton. We discussed flexible road safety barriers, turn-around areas, changes to intersections and road markings, including widening the centre line. This project is moving toward the detailed design stage and we will update the community as designs progress.)

Learn more about flexible safety barriers

Flyover

Why a straight flyover?

The skewed alignment was based on past investigations and public consultation and was the community’s preference at that time. The skewed alignment is longer and could provide a more gentle gradient in places. It had the least impact on property and access and fully removed the high-risk rail level crossing at Hoskyns Road.

More recent public consultation in 2021 showed, while people acknowledged the need to connect both sides of Rolleston, there were community concerns about the skewed flyover. Some people commented that a bridge connecting to the east on Jones Road – and then having to backtrack to other industrial areas and businesses – was too limiting. People wanted access to all the industrial area and the continuity of Jones Road to remain. This feedback prompted further investigations.

Subsequently all the options for a flyover were reassessed in 2022 alongside ongoing investigations. Our updated plans were consulted on again with the public which has confirmed our recommended alignment.

(Refer to answer above: Why are you recommending a straight flyover – why not the skew?)

Why is the flyover at this location?

The recommended flyover provides the most direct connection between the township side of the highway and rail corridor and industrial/business areas. Rolleston Drive North is the main traffic route for these connections, and having the flyover go straight across to Jones Road provides the greatest access to all parts of the industrial area. At Jones Road people can turn left to access IZone Drive or right to get to Hoskyns Road and its connection to West Melton and SH73, the IPORT development area and SH1 heading to Christchurch via the Rolleston Interchange at Weedons Road. This location provides more direct and reliable connections for everyone including buses and emergency services.

The team explored a range of potential alignments and locations for the flyover. Read more here:

The path to a flyover - SH1 Rolleston Transport Improvements [PDF, 3.9 MB]

Why not go under?

Underpass options at a variety of locations have been explored. The technical challenges of constructing an underpass under a rail line and state highway are greater and would require increased resources and investment. An underpass with a lot of traffic will have idling emissions as vehicles queue on the uphill incline to the adjacent intersections during peak times. Even with ventilation, this would be unpleasant for people using the shared path to walk, cycle and scooter. We are also conscious of personal security concerns for pedestrians and underpasses are susceptible to flooding in severe weather.

Will the flyover be one way?

No, the flyover will have people moving in both directions. The plan is for two-lanes of traffic into the industrial side to accommodate the largest traffic flows, and a single lane into Rolleston residential side. A 3m wide shared use path for walking and cycling is proposed for both sides of the flyover.

sh1 rolleston transport improvements flyover indicative cross section

Indicative flyover cross-section.

sh1 rolleston transport improvements flyover indicative image

Indicative flyover image.

Is there a bridge I can walk or cycle over to get a feel for the flyover gradient?

The flyover meets accessible guidelines of a 1 in 12 gradient. The upper end of the rise is only for a very short length. For a comparison, the recently constructed Prestons Road Bridge in Redwood (pictured below) has the same rise.

Highway access

Can we have a left-in from the highway at Hoskyns Road?

We looked into whether this is possible, and it would be too unsafe. There would still be an unacceptable rail level crossing short stacking risk with traffic queuing back from the Jones Road traffic signals. Equally as concerning – the Hoskyns Road rail level crossing (when activated) would cause vehicle traffic to back up onto the highway, creating queues and increasing crash risks.

Investigations show, once the flyover is up and running, traffic from the residential side of Rolleston will no longer need the Hoskyns Road entry. There will be good access from the SH1/Dunns Crossing/Walkers Roads roundabout. If people miss the exit, it’s not much further to loop back via the Rolleston Interchange at Weedons Road.

How do I get onto the highway heading north?

Under the recommended plan you can get onto the highway to Christchurch by using either:

Rolleston Drive North to access the flyover – turn right onto Jones Road, right onto Hoskyns Road and after the rail level crossing take the free left turn onto the highway.
Levi Road to the Rolleston Interchange at Weedons Road.
SH1/Dunns Crossing/Walkers Roads roundabout.
from Rolleston Drive South – turn left (southbound) onto the highway and use the SH1/Dunns Crossing/Walkers Roads roundabout to U-turn northbound to Christchurch.

Why is highway access being restricted?

The recommended plan is based on safe transport system design. This recognises people make mistakes on the road and a crash shouldn’t result in people being killed or seriously injured.

While it may seem like more access points will improve local access, the result is increased safety risk and crashes which affect travel time reliability.

Turning right across the main flow of high-speed traffic is high-risk and increasingly dangerous as traffic volumes increase. ‘T-bone’ and head-on collisions are often the most lethal types of vehicle crashes. The recommended changes remove right turning risks while providing access and connectivity at key locations.

We have consulted with emergency services who are satisfied the recommended plan provides an improved level of highway access and connection.

If we provide any more highway access than what is recommended, with the anticipated traffic increases, safety at intersections would be compromised and travel would become increasingly inefficient, on both the highway and local roads.

Retaining a right turn or a roundabout at Rolleston Drive South would not be safe in this road environment. We have checked the capacity of Dunns Crossing Road, and while traffic does increase here and along parts of Brookside Road and Lowes Road, these roads are intended to carry the anticipated level of traffic. The Council has already proposed upgrading some of these roads in response to residential growth.

See question above: What are you doing about safety for tamariki on Dunns Crossing Road?

To prevent head-on crashes and to keep people safe, flexible barriers in the middle of the highway will be installed from the end of the Christchurch Southern Motorway through to Dunns Crossing Road. The barrier catches vehicles before they crash. If you hit a flexible barrier, the steel cables flex, slowing down your vehicle and keeping it upright. (They can be lowered and driven over in an emergency.)

The main southern entrances to Rolleston will be clearly signposted to give people plenty of warning. Appropriate highway signage will guide traffic as well as 'wayfinding' signs on surrounding local roads. The proposed two-lane roundabout at SH1/Dunns Crossing/Walkers Roads will provide the main southern access to both sides of Rolleston, the same as Rolleston Interchange at Weedons Road provides from the north.

A northbound off-ramp from the flyover to SH1 was considered and ruled out, mainly because traffic signals would be needed on the flyover for right turning traffic. As well as there not being enough space to cater for all the turning movements, traffic signals would not work well in a confined space, especially with gradient affecting how far people can see ahead. A bigger bridge is not an option either – given the space requirements for height clearances, operation, embankments, connecting intersections and ensuring safety for everyone – people in vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians.

Why aren’t you four-laning the highway now?

We have checked the forecast highway traffic volumes and confirmed that once the traffic signals are removed (these require two lanes on the highway approaches), the expected volume of traffic can operate adequately on a single free-flowing lane in both directions. The recommended flyover design provides clearance for over dimension vehicles to travel underneath and there is sufficient space to add highway lanes if needed in the future.

Current and predicted highway traffic volumes to 2038 show that one free flowing lane is all that is needed in the meantime.

Will there still be highway bottlenecks?

The two-to-one lane merge on the Christchurch Southern Motorway ahead of the Hoskyns Road traffic signals is an intentional design to slow traffic and reduce the risk of crashes at the intersection.

Once the signals have been removed there is less requirement to retain the lane merge for speed management. The recommended plan southbound is for one lane turning left into Rolleston township and one lane travelling along the state highway through Rolleston. We are investigating providing for two lanes where the lane merge is currently located.

Once the existing signals have been removed, southbound traffic will be able to merge and flow more freely than what people are currently experiencing.

(There will be no merging required for northbound traffic entering the highway from Hoskyns Road – this will be a free left turn after the rail level crossing.)

Local roads

Will there be any new traffic signals?

The new flyover connects Rolleston Drive North with Jones Road on the industrial side. It will start approximately from the existing Kidman Street intersection which will be upgraded to traffic signals that incorporate the highway off-ramp. Anticipated traffic growth will mean that the flyover landing point at Jones Road will require a signalised intersection. The existing traffic signals at Jones Road/Hoskyns Road will be upgraded.

All traffic signal operations will be optimised to ensure reliable traffic flow for everyone using these intersections. Bus services on Kidman Street will get priority at the new signals to get the ‘jump ahead’ of other traffic onto the flyover. The traffic signals will also include facilities for pedestrians and cyclists so people can cross the road safely and in good time.

What will the impact be on local roads? Will you be upgrading local roads as part of this project?

Rolleston’s local arterial roads (including Two Chain Road, Walkers Road, Dunns Crossing Road, Lowes Road, Levi Road, Weedons Road, Jones Road and Weedons Ross Road) are controlled by Selwyn District Council. Upgrading these roads is not included in this project scope. We are coordinating with the Council to ensure local road upgrades are aligned with the highway work we are doing to ensure a safe and effective transport system for the community of Rolleston. We are working closely to integrate our transport improvements and to manage any effects the highway upgrades will have on the surrounding transport network.

While local road use is increasing relative to Rolleston’s rapid growth, we have been careful to ensure that highway planning will not add to this in a way that cannot be managed. Additional highway access (at Hoskyns Road and to Rolleston Drive North) reduces the reliance on the Rolleston Interchange at Weedons Road. The flyover will draw traffic across to Rolleston Drive North from other streets such as Tennyson Drive and will protect the pedestrian friendly town centre from too much vehicle traffic.

With the proposed roundabout at SH1/Dunns Crossing Road/ Walker Roads, the Two Chain Road – Jones Road route becomes the main southern access to the industrial area. The Council has recently upgraded Walkers Road and plans to upgrade Two Chain Road to coincide with the highway improvements. This will include a new roundabout at Walkers/Two Chain Roads and a realigned rail level crossing onto Jones Road (near Wards and Jones Roads).

We’re expecting traffic to increase on Rolleston Drive North, Jones Road and Masefield Drive. These roads have been designed and built for more traffic. The Council has plans to signalise the Masefield Drive/Levi Road intersection, along with other improvements such as widening Levi Road, which will help provide additional capacity for traffic heading towards the flyover.

We are expecting a traffic increase on Dunns Crossing Road once the proposed roundabout is built. We are aware of wider effects, with some traffic re-routing onto Brookside Drive and Lowes Road, and potential effects on Dunns Crossing Road especially given the location of West Rolleston Primary School.

(See question above: What are you doing about safety for tamariki using Dunns Crossing Road?)

Jones Road will have capacity to collect traffic from the flyover as well as the extra traffic expected as the IPORT area develops. Additional traffic on Jones Road will mostly come from ongoing industrial growth, people going to/from developing retail areas or people commuting from Rolleston to Christchurch. Even with this additional demand, for the next 15 to 20 years, there will be capacity for this traffic on Jones Road. A key reason is different kinds of journeys are happening at different times. For example, most of the trips to Christchurch happen earlier in the morning, before people are travelling to the IPORT development.

Updates to our plans following public consultation in 2021 will help efficiency at the Rolleston Interchange at Weedons Road. Changes include a free turn left onto the highway from Hoskyns Road and vehicles from Christchurch can take the new highway service road off-ramp and loop back via the flyover to Jones Road. We will continue to monitor delays and queues at the Rolleston Interchange at Weedons Road. Large trucks will be encouraged to use the interchange and Jones Road to access the industrial area from the north. Jones Road is an arterial road design to carry large volumes of traffic, and the existing roundabouts have been designed to accommodate large vehicles.

How does this project fit with other work planned around Rolleston?

Planning has factored in other transport projects in Selwyn District, which will work together to create safer and more reliable travel for people. Examples include local road upgrades (such as the Two Chain Road connection to Jones Road), the local walking and cycling network, Park’n’Ride opportunities (connecting to public transport) – which are all Selwyn District Council delivered projects. Other projects will be included as part of the development of Councils 2024-34 Long Term Plan to coordinate with anything further as needed, for example an upgrade of Levi Road.

SH1 through Selwyn District will be made safer through the delivery of infrastructure improvements – flexible barriers, turn-around areas, changes to intersections and road markings including widening the centre line – planned to extend 46.1km between Selwyn River and Ashburton. This work is being delivered through the Waka Kotahi Road to Zero - Speed and Infrastructure Programme. This includes a new roundabout at the state highway intersection at Burnham.

Public transport

What are you doing to support better public transport?

Bus services No.5, No.85 and No.820 will take the flyover to Jones Road. As well as prioritising buses at the new Kidman Street traffic lights, the flyover will link into the existing Park’n’Ride and improve journey times for people using these services. New pedestrian crossings on either side of the flyover will link directly to bus stops.

The Rolleston to Christchurch direct bus service will benefit in the same way general vehicle traffic will, with more reliable travel times. The upgraded traffic signals at Jones Road/Hoskyns Road will have a pedestrian crossing connecting with the bus stops on Jones Road.

Refer to question above: Are plans future focused?

And refer to page 8 for a more comprehensive response:

SH1 Rolleston 2022 community engagement summary [PDF, 336 KB]

Local businesses

What will the impact be on local businesses?

Our plans for Rolleston have been designed to ensure good access for as many people and businesses as possible. We have made every effort to design around impacting people’s property and access. The plans do unfortunately affect some businesses and property close to the proposed flyover and at SH1/Dunns Crossing/Walkers Roads intersection where a new roundabout is proposed. We have had discussions with the most affected parties to understand their concerns and possible ways to reduce the impacts.

Near the flyover, we're talking with directly affected people about anticipated property impacts and access. We are not quite at the point of needing to acquire property yet.

Once we know what is needed, property required for the project will be purchased by Waka Kotahi, based on current market value, determined by independent valuers. Waka Kotahi offers services and support to the people involved as part of this process.

As detailed planning progresses, the team will be working to understand other potential impacts including noise and vibration, traffic impacts, constructability, air quality and more.

We will keep people informed as we progress, and we encourage you to get in touch or subscribe to our e-newsletter so we can keep you updated.

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Community engagement

Did the public get a say?

Yes, 2021 consultation feedback (from the community and key stakeholders) helped to shape the recommended plans for Rolleston.

Feedback from public consultation in 2022 is assisting us in making sure we haven’t missed anything important and in finalising the plan and business case, which will happen around the first part of 2023.

Public input on these plans has been factored in over many years. Selwyn District Council’s Draft Long-Term-Plan 2015-2025 public consultation included a skewed flyover alignment and a question asking if a Rolleston SH1 flyover was supported – 70 per cent responded yes.

Between July and August 2021, we asked the public for feedback on an initial draft proposal on transport improvements which included the skewed flyover option.

The main changes following community engagement in 2021 were:

a more direct flyover connection between Rolleston township and industrial areas for a simpler transport network (instead of the ‘skewed’ flyover consulted on in 2021)
more highway access points – for ease of travel and to improve efficiency at the Rolleston Interchange at Weedons Road:
- adding a free turn northbound onto the highway from Hoskyns Road (after the rail level crossing)
- adding an off ramp to the southbound highway service road so vehicles can access Rolleston Drive North and loop back via the flyover to Jones Road and industrial areas.

How are you engaging with iwi?

Waka Kotahi is a New Zealand Crown partner with iwi. As a Treaty Partner, Waka Kotahi works with Māori as partners and is committed to fostering strong and enduring relationships. We are currently working with Te Taumutu Rūnanga and Te Ngāi Tūāhuriri Rūnanga on exploring opportunities in this project.

Speed

What will the highway speed limit be once this project is completed?

In 2021 when we first asked for feedback on plans, we also asked people their thoughts on highway speed limits from Hoskyns Road through to Dunsandel.

Read the community feedback here:

Community engagement report – December 2021 [PDF, 2.5 MB]

The team reviewed this feedback alongside their technical assessment and determined the current speed limits can stay in the meantime, while planning for infrastructure upgrades are underway.

We’re anticipating a safe and appropriate speed limit recommendation of 80km/h will be included as part of the project design. Plans will also factor in safety improvements in the pipeline for the corridor from Templeton through to the Selwyn River. (This includes a new roundabout for Burnham).

What impact will the project have on highway speed?

SH1 will feel very different once the planned flyover is completed. The signals at both Rolleston Drive North and Hoskyns Road will be removed, and we anticipate the new infrastructure will support a safe and appropriate speed limit of 80km/h through Rolleston. Most intersections will change to ‘left-in/left-out’ which significantly reduces crash risks and will help traffic flow.

A two-lane roundabout is proposed for the SH1/Dunns Crossing/Walkers Road intersection. While it will slow traffic speeds at this location, roundabouts are the safest form of intersection for people in vehicles. The physical form of the roundabout requires people to reduce their vehicle speed and pay attention in order to navigate the intersection. People are more likely to survive a crash at a lower speed.

Refer to question above: Will the changes make cycling a safer option – on the flyover and at the roundabout?

Community feedback on local road speed limits has been shared with Selwyn District Council.

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