New Zealand’s NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) is set to open more lanes of Christchurch’s new Western Belfast Bypass this month.

The Western Belfast Bypass is a four-lane, 5km stretch of highway, which bypassing Belfast, extends the Christchurch Northern Motorway (SH1) and connects into State Highway 1 (SH1) Johns Road, west of The Groynes entrance.

The opening of the new lanes will enable the project team to complete the final parts of the project, which include connecting the bypass up to the existing road network and conducting surfacing work on the on / off ramps.

On 31 October, a northbound lane heading towards Picton opened to traffic first, and the second northbound lane opened in November.

Transport Agency principal project manager Geoff Griffiths said: “It is important that people drive with extra care and attention while everyone gets used to these changes and keep speeds down on the new chip seal surface.

“It is important that people drive with extra care and attention while everyone gets used to these changes and keep speeds down on the new chip seal surface.”

“With two northbound lanes now open, traffic entering the northern motorway from Main North Road will have to merge with the northbound bypass traffic.”

Based on the weather conditions, one of the two southbound lanes is expected to open to traffic later this week.

With the opening of the lane, traffic moving towards the city or Belfast will have to take the Main North Road exit, while the traffic heading to Hornby or Christchurch International Airport can travel on the new bypass.

By 17 November, all lanes of the Western Belfast Bypass are expected to open to traffic depending on the weather conditions.

The project team will lay the final low noise asphalt surfacing in spring next year.

Once complete, the new road will help reduce congestion and travel times, in addition to providing a better and safer connection throughout greater Christchurch.