Work starts on Innes Road upgrade
Christchurch City Council Newsline: 8th January 2024
A busy Mairehau thoroughfare is being rebuilt to fix the poor condition of the road and vibration issues.
Christchurch City Council has begun work to strengthening and improving the chipseal road surface of Innes Road between Mersey Street and Mahars Road, as well as replacing the watermain which is at the end of its life.
“This road is in a particularly bad condition, so it needs to be totally restored from the foundation to make sure it’s of good quality for road users,” Transport Planning and Delivery Manager Jacob Bradbury said.
“Since the Northern Motorway opened, we’ve also seen many more heavy vehicles using this road, and this work will ensure that the surface can deal with the increased loadings”.
The work will be carried out in two stages with one lane of traffic maintained in each direction, however on-street parking will not be available.
The first stage of work on the northern side of Innes Road is underway until mid-March, while the second stage of work on the southern side is expected to be completed by mid-June.
“We know this will be disruptive for businesses and residents, so we want to thank everyone for their patience while we get this major piece of work completed,” Mr Bradbury said.
“While work to rebuild the road is happening, we’re also taking this opportunity to install other safety improvements we spoke to the community about last year to get it all done in one hit and make sure the roadworks finish as quickly as possible.”
Kerb buildouts will also be introduced at Ethne Street, Nancy Avenue and Kensington Avenue intersections, and a central island will be installed at Thames Street and the existing central island at Philpotts Street will be replaced. These changes will make it easier for people to cross the side roads.
Raised platforms will be installed at existing zebra crossings at Mairehau Primary School and St Francis of Assisi School, while stop signs will be introduced at Thames Street, Philpotts Road, Nancy Avenue and Ethne Street to improve drivers’ visibility of pedestrians and cyclists.
“This section of Innes Road has about 15,000 vehicles travelling down it each day so this work will not only improve the worn-out road but also help make it safer for everyone, particularly for students heading to and from the nearby schools,” Mr Bradbury said.