Media Release
26 March 2012

Inner harbour roads receive earthquake repairs

Earthquake repairs have started on Lyttelton Harbour roads and Dyers Pass Road to secure key city transport routes.
The Stronger Christchurch Infrastructure Rebuild Team (SCIRT) is rebuilding the city’s earthquake damaged roads, fresh water, wastewater and stormwater networks. City Care, as part of SCIRT, is undertaking the repairs of earthquake damaged roads and footpaths on sections of Dyers Pass Road (from Colombo Street to Governors Bay) and along the inner harbour road from Lyttelton West to Teddington.

“The earthquakes have put pressure on transport routes between the Inner Harbour and the city, so it is important that the Dyers Pass link is in good repair,” says SCIRT General Manager Duncan Gibb.

There are five sites to be repaired within the inner harbour beginning at the intersection of Governors Bay Road and Sandy Beach Road. This will be followed by repairs on Governors Bay Road heading east to Rapaki and at the intersection of Oamaru Road and Governors Bay Road. The third repair site is at the roadside layby above Magazine Bay on Park Terrace with the fourth site being a section of road on Brittan Terrace. The final site to complete these works is on Governors Bay/Teddington Road on the bend approaching Allendale Reserve from Governors Bay and a small section of road adjacent to the reserve carpark.

Work will only include ‘pockets’ or small sections of repair work in these areas. Work is due to finish in a section of Governors Bay Road and Teddington Road (Site Five) in late April this year.

“This is a project which covers a large geographical area and we will be using different types of communication to keep the various inner harbour communities up to date with the progress.Work notices which include maps of the upcoming worksites are an important tool and we’ve already delivered these to around 350 houses,” Mr Gibb says.

With many residents within the inner harbour not contactable through the traditional mailbox drop, SCIRT will be distributing work notices to key community groups and affected stakeholder groups via email. Resident groups are also being asked to help spread the word about the repair plan.

“As part of this work, City Care is also using signage to warn all road users of potential delays. “Although not expected to be significant, people are likely to experience delays,” says Mr Gibb. “We are also mindful that the inner Harbour and Dyers Pass Roads are used by a large number of cyclists, especially during the weekend. We are using our stakeholder networks and site signage to reach as many cyclists as possible to inform them of these works,” Mr Gibb says.

The nature of the inner harbour means that some sections of the road contain blind corners and tight bends. Combine this with areas of open speed zones and the safety of our workers becomes a major focus. “The safety of Christchurch communities, commuters and rebuild workers is SCIRT’s number one responsibility,” says Mr Gibb.

“Our workers are well trained but they are not bulletproof and we want them to get home safely to their families.

“To ensure the safety of our many workers and all road users, we rely on everyone following the onsite traffic management including adhering to the 30kph speed limit through the worksites.”

Residents can find out more information about the work by picking up work notices at the Christchurch City Council’s Lyttelton Service Centre. Information can also be found on SCIRT’s website by clicking onto www.strongerchristchurch.govt.nz. City Care can also be contacted on 0800 632 899 to answer any questions about the repair work.

City Care would like to thank the communities of Cashmere and the inner harbour for their patience while they complete these essential earthquake repair works.

SCIRT is a partnership between Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA), Christchurch City Council, New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) and contractors City Care, Downer, Fulton Hogan and MacDow Fletcher.

© Scoop Media