Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency has made changes to the State Highway 73 (SH73) and Weedons Ross Road intersection making it safer and easier for everyone to use whether they are walking, cycling, scootering or driving.
While all the construction work has been completed some streetscaping and landscaping will be done during the winter – giving the plants a better chance to establish rather than planting over the summer.
As part of the project, we’ll also be back early next summer to do a final scheduled coat of chip seal and refresh line markings.
We completed construction including the installation of new signals in March 2023.
The project, which is part of the New Zealand Upgrade Programme included:
These changes will improve connections in the community to key facilities, like the community and recreation centre, the Domain, local shops, West Melton School, early childcare facilities, churches, and the tavern.
It will be safer for the community to get around West Melton whether people are walking, cycling, scooting, or driving.
Travel times at the intersection will also be more reliable – which is important with the connection to the Christchurch Southern Motorway, and as Selwyn District continues to grow.
People in the community told us they would like to feel safer when walking and cycling around the village, and that drivers using the intersection are worried about crashes and often feel frustrated because of the lengthy delays at busy times.
We held a workshop, in October 2020, with stakeholders and discussed the development of a roundabout or traffic signals at the intersection. We then developed a proposed design.
During November and December 2020, we asked the public for feedback on our proposed design.
The project team considered this information to ensure the best possible design was developed.
You can see what others had to say, at that time, on our interactive online map.
View online feedback(external link)
Thank you very much to those who provided feedback.
We then continued to refine our design (see above).
This project is part of the NZ Upgrade Programme (NZUP), the Government's $8.7 billion investment in growing communities across the country.
Through NZUP, communities can look forward to transport improvements that provide more travel choices, help people get where they’re going safely and grow our economy, while responding to the impacts of travel on the environment.
