The $112 million upgrade of Russley Road in Christchurch is on track to open early next year, several months ahead of schedule.
Transport minister Simon Bridges was visiting the site today, at the intersection of Memorial Avenue and Russley Road to check on progress, and he says it is great news for everyone.
“The early completion of the project would help relieve congestion and support economic growth in the Canterbury region,” says Bridges.
“Good weather, combined with the contractors McConnell Dowell Downer being able to bring on additional resources and skilled staff has seen about ten months shaved off the timetable,” he says.
“Innovation has also played a part, by designing and building the elliptical roundabout, the contractors have been able to minimise disruptions to the work schedule and keep traffic moving,” says Bridges.
“Because the traffic has travelled around the site, limiting the need to continually change traffic management and letting the contractors get on with the job,” he says.
He says by the end of next month traffic would be travelling from Christchurch Airport to the city under the overbridge, and by the end of the year traffic on State Highway 1 would move over the overbridge. This project is now expecting completion in early 2018.
The Russley Road upgrade is one of the six sections of the $300-$350 million Western Corridor upgrade from Belfast to Hornby to a four-lane, median-separated highway.
Three of the six sections are complete with the remaining three are underway for completion by the end of next year.
The upgrade will reduce congestion, improve traffic times, provide better walking and cycling connections between the airport and city, improve safety and support economic growth by providing better connections to the airport.
