Main North Rd works nearing an end

Work to improve bus journey times along busy Main North Road is drawing to a close.

Contractors City Care have been working since the beginning of the year to install a northbound bus lane on Main North Road between Winston Avenue and Sawyers Arms Road.

They had to temporarily halt work during the COVID-19 lockdown which meant the project has taken longer than the six months originally envisaged.

“The COVID-19 lockdown did unfortunately cause some delays but the contractors have now largely completed the work,’’ says Christchurch City Council Transport Planning and Delivery Manager Lynette Ellis.

“They have installed the northbound bus lane, put in new traffic lights at the intersection of Main North Road and Grassmere Street, and made layout changes to the entrance of the Northlands Shopping Centre.

“These changes should improve the safety and efficiency of the transport network and make it easier for buses to travel up and down Main North Road,’’ Ms Ellis says.

The new northbound bus lane will be operational from Monday 28 September.

Main North Road already had a southbound bus lane between Mary and Homer Street that operated during the morning peak. That southbound bus lane will now also operate in the afternoon peak as well.