A number of possible routes for SH1 have been considered over the past decade however in the end there were only two possible corridors SH1 could take between Pineacres and the Pegasus area. One involved four laning the existing highway that goes through Woodend; the other corridor (the chosen route) involves building a new section of highway that runs to the east of Woodend.
While this project will not be built for 10 -15 year, we are planning for it now so the community has some certainty about what the improvements will be and so the extra land needed to increase the capacity of SH1 can be protected.
Background
Traffic volumes along SH1 in North Canterbury and through Woodend are steadily increasing. To cope with this growth the capacity on SH1 will need to be increased in the future. We are planning for this now so the extra land needed to increase the capacity of SH1 is protected.Recently the Transport Agency considered two possible corridors SH1 could follow between Pineacres and Pegasus. One involved four laning the existing highway that passes through Woodend; the other corridor involved building a new section of highway running to the east of Woodend.In February 2013 the Transport Agency board decided that bypassing Woodend was the best option for the future of SH1 and access through North Canterbury.
This corridor improvement will also include four-laning the motorway from Lineside Road to Pineacres.There is rapid development taking place in and around Woodend, Pegasus and North Kaiapoi, changing the land use from predominantly rural to more residential, light industrial and commercial activities - all generating more traffic. As the Pegasus town development reaches completion traffic through Woodend is projected to increase to approximately 28,000 vehicles per day. This volume of traffic will exceed the capacity of the existing two-lane SH1 through Woodend. Additional traffic will reduce safety and increase community severance and air, water and noise pollution on the existing road. Planning and preparing in advance for this increase in traffic will ensure better outcomes for the community, road users and the environment.environment.There are existing designations for road widening through Woodend. In 2007 an earlier round of community consultation resulted in the plan to investigate both the option to widen the existing SH1 to four lanes and the option for a short eastern alignment running between Pineacres and Pegasus.
Improving capacity on SH1 will:
Allow a four-lane, median separated corridor from the end of the existing four-lane motorway at Lineside Road to the entrance at Pegasus on SH1Reduce congestion, journey times and enhance travel efficiencyImprove safety, benefiting not only drivers but also other road users such as cyclists and pedestriansImprove traffic flow and control through better intersection lay-outImprove access and connectivity between Christchurch and North Canterbury as well as within and across local townshipsBetter define WoodendImprove the urban design and form within Woodend with improved connections in and around Woodend, Kaiapoi and Pegasus.
Background
There are existing designations for road widening through Woodend. In 2007 an earlier round of community consultation resulted in the plan to investigate both the option to widen the existing SH1 to four lanes and the option for a short eastern alignment running between Pineacres and Pegasus.
An overview of the Woodend Corridor investigationinvestigation?
The Woodend Corridor investigation was carried out between 2011 and 2013. It developed the best route and layout for both of the possible SH1 routes between Pineacres and the Pegasus area and it consulted the community on their views and considered the pros and cons of the two routes.The two corridors investigated where:
- four-laning the existing SH1 through Woodend
- a new route to the east of Woodend between Pineacres and Pegasus entrance, named the Short Eastern Alignment (SEA).
The NZ Transport Agency worked with the community and the Waimakariri District Council to integrate this project with other community plans including; Kaiapoi North, Woodend east, Ravenswood and Pegasus outline development plans. Onplans.On completion of the study the Short Eastern Alignment (SEA) was selected as the best option for the future. The land needed iswill now be protected by a designation in the Waimakariri District Plan so the project can be built when required by the increased traffic volumes in the future. future. This process will likely allow the community to have a further opportunity for comment on this option.
Update
We lodged a Notice of Requirement for a designation over the land needed for the Short Eastern Alignment (SEA) in late 2013 and the Waimakariri District Council publicly notified this application in mid-January 2014. The public then had until 24 March to make a submission, asubmission. A hearing followed and decision to designatewe are now waiting on a recommendation from the Short Eastern Alignment route followed. Wecommissioner.After designation, we are not planning to build the Short Eastern Alignment right away.away. This project’s aim is to protectprotected the land needed for the motorway and give the community some certainty on future improvements. At At present we intended to build the bypass in about 10 -15 years. The Pegasus/Ravenswood roundabout project wasnow under construction is not part of this project. It is a NZ Transport Agency project jointly funded by Pegasus and Ravenswood to provide safer access to Pegasus and Ravenswood.
During 2011 and 2012, NZTA consulted widely with the community on widening the existing State Highway 1 route through Woodend and the alternative eastern bypass route. After consideration of the public feedback received and the outcome of the work done to evaluate both routes, the NZTA has decided to seek a designation for the short eastern alignment bypass option.The bypass will greatly reduce severance of the Woodend community and will have a positive impact on road safety, especially for pedestrians and cyclists.We have lodged an application with the Waimakariri District Council to have the route designated under their District Plan. This public process gave the community further opportunity for comment on the preferred option.We are now waiting on the commissioners recommendations.This Short Eastern Alignment will not be built right away but the land needed will be protected through the designation within the Waimakariri District Plan. It is intended that the new alignment will be built in about 10 -15 years, but this will be reviewed periodically.This new SH1 corridor will future-proof access through North Canterbury by increasing the capacity of SH1, improving safety and travel time reliability, and supporting economic growth.