Roads and bridges

Client: New Zealand Transport Agency

Value: $122 million

Contract type: Roads and bridges

Completion date: Ongoing (2015-2018)

Part of the New Zealand Roads of National Significance programme, the Western Belfast Bypass (WBB) project in Christchurch involves building a four-lane, median separated motorway to provide a direct connection between the Christchurch Northern Motorway and Johns Road. It is the final stage of the NZ$322M Western Corridor and, together with the Southern Motorway and Northern Arterial, makes up the Christchurch Motorways project.

The first sod was turned in May 2015 by Minister of Transport, Simon Bridges and the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA).

Once this NZTA project is finished, it aims to reduce traffic on Main North Road by half – reducing congestion and making travel times more predictable. By reducing traffic through Belfast, the bypass will also make cycling and walking more attractive on Main North Road and improve the reliability of public transport.  Traffic will also be greatly reduced on Johns Road between The Groynes and Main North Road. The Bypass is expected to be completed in early 2018.