Work on Nor'West cycle connection gets underway

The next stage of construction on Te Ara O-Rakipaoa Nor’West Arc Cycleway is getting underway.

The new section of the cycleway will run from the University of Canterbury to Aorangi Road and is expected to be complete by mid-2024.

Christchurch City Council Head of Transport Lynette Ellis says the cycleway will make it safer and easier for people to bike to school, the university, the local shops and Jellie Park.

“From Monday 11 September, work will start along Ilam Road between Aorangi Road and Maidstone Road,” Ms Ellis says.

“Making it safer for people to bike helps reduce congestion, lowers emissions and makes it easier for cyclists to get around.”

“As part of this work we’re also making it safer for Cobham Intermediate and Burnside Primary School students to safely cross Ilam Road by installing a signalised crossing with a safe speed platform.” 

Additional improvements include new trees and landscaping, upgrading the layout at signalised intersections and installing tactile pavers. This will encourage people to travel at lower speeds to make it safer for everyone.

“A one-way traffic management system will be in place from Monday 11 September. Traffic will travel in a northbound direction along Ilam Road with southbound traffic detoured. There will be no access to Ilam Road from the Clyde Road roundabout,” Ms Ellis says.   

“The detour routes will be signposted. Please use Clyde Road to the east, and Waimairi Road/Greers Road to the west.”

The traffic lights at Ilam/Memorial and Ilam/Maidstone will be temporarily turned off for about eight weeks during the upgrade.

The Nor’ West Arc will provide an important link connecting Cashmere to the Northern Line Cycleway, near St James Park in Papanui.

Sections of the cycleway between Cashmere Road and Annex Road and Blenheim Road to the University of Canterbury on Ilam Road are already complete.

A Notice of Motion on the process to adopt a different design for the Aorangi Road between Ilam Road and Brookside Terrace section of the Nor’West Arc was approved by the Council on 6 September. It does not impact this section of the project.

Find out more about the project and sign up to receive project updates at ccc.govt.nz/norwestarc