A new phase has begun on a multi-million dollar project to reopen Sumner Road near Christchurch, New Zealand.

The project is jointly funded by Christchurch City Council and the New Zealand Transport Agency. As part of the new stage, geotechnical risk mitigation work has commenced around Crater Rim Bluffs.

Christchurch's Mayor Lianne Dalziel said: “Sumner Road is such an important place to Cantabrians, economically as the link between Lyttelton Port and the city, as the connection between Lyttelton and Sumner communities, and also as a hugely popular recreational space with tourists and cyclists.

“It’s really exciting to be heading into this phase of work and to see us closer to being able to travel this road once again.’’

"This is a lifeline route for Christchurch and so critical in supporting the economic wellbeing of not only Canterbury but the whole South Island."

Sumner Road reaches from Evans Pass to Lyttelton and has been closed since an earthquake in February 2011. The road was under high-risk of further rock falls and landslides.

Work will be carried out by McConnell Dowell, in partnership with Beca, Doug Hood Mining, and Geovert. It involves scaling the upper reaches of the Crater Rim Bluffs to remove unstable rock and a rock bund will be constructed in Double Gully to the west of Crater Rim Bluffs to capture rock falls.  

This bund will be several metres high and 50m long, covered with basalt cobbles to reflect the basalt stone walls in the area.

New Zealand Transport Agency's southern regional director Jim Harland said: “This is a lifeline route for Christchurch and so critical in supporting the economic wellbeing of not only Canterbury but the whole South Island.

“This is recognised by the Transport Agency’s 83% funding of the work as part of the earthquake recovery programme.’’

The road is expected to re-open in 2018.