Western Belfast Bypass

The Western Belfast Bypass is an approximately 5-kilometre-long (3.1 mi), four lane, grade separated motorway proposed to bypass the northern Christchurch suburb of Belfast, New Zealand. It is estimated that the construction of the motorway will result in 17,000 fewer vehicles using Main North Road through Belfast, and shorten travel times between the north and west of Christchurch. In addition, the motorway will allow for improved public transport, cycling, and pedestrian options on Main North Road. It is expected that 21,500 vehicles per day will use the WBB motorway by 2026. The speed limit along the route will be 100 km/h.^[2]

Route

The proposed motorway will link directly from the Christchurch Northern Motorway, at Chaneys interchange, to Johns Road at the Clearwater roundabout, bypassing the current section of State Highway One through the Belfast urban area.^[3] It forms part of the Christchurch Western Corridor, which is one of the Roads of National Significance projects previously announced by the Government in 2009.^[4]

Planning and construction

A northbound off-ramp and southbound on-ramp will be provided at Groynes Road. The existing section of SH1 along Johns Road from The Groynes to Sawyers Arms Road is to be upgraded to a four lane median divided highway, with restricted access intersections, as part of the Christchurch Western Corridor programme.^[5] The contract was awarded to Fulton Hogan. Construction began on May 8, 2015 with the first sod turned by Minister of Transport Simon Bridges, and is expected to take about 3 years to complete.^[6]

References