17 May 2013

Lyttelton Tunnel to celebrate 50th anniversary

Planning is underway to celebrate next year’s 50th anniversary of the opening of the Christchurch-Lyttelton Road Tunnel.

Opened on 27 February 1964, more than 110 years after it was first mooted, the tunnel was hailed by the community as the new gateway for the Port to the Plains, says NZ Transport Agency Regional Director Jim Harland.

“In publicity at the time, it was said the Port Hills were no longer a barrier to road transport; Christchurch and Lyttelton having originally been connected by a zig-zag path, then a tortuous hilly road, a railway tunnel and then 114 years after the first organised settlement of the province, a road tunnel.”

He says costing £2.7 million, the Lyttelton Tunnel was “among the most modern in the world” and at 1944m long it became New Zealand’s longest road tunnel, which it remains today.

“The opening of the road tunnel was an important time in the history for Christchurch. It reduced the distance between Lyttelton and Christchurch by five miles (eight kilometres) and avoided the hill climb over Evans Pass/Sumner Road, opening up a new era for Christchurch, Canterbury and its industries.”

The tunnel was opened by the then Governor General His Excellency Brigadier Sir Bernard Fergusson after more than a century of planning, debating and negotiating, then three years of construction. It was estimated 2000 to 2500 vehicles would use it every day with revenue from tolls expected to be sufficient to meet operating costs.

At the time, the Lyttelton Harbour Board has already been working for some years on a development plan for new berths and wharf transit sheds on the eastern extension. Plans had also been provided to develop the inner harbour.

Mr Harland says following the earthquake and the closure of Sumner Road, the Lyttelton Road Tunnel is now the only direct route for port traffic, carrying more than 9614 vehicles each day, 1500 of which are trucks. “This makes it a critical lifeline for the South Island and an important access route for Lyttelton residents.”

The tunnel’s 50th anniversary celebrations will be centred on Lyttelton; details of these are expected to be finalised in the next two to three months.

He says the celebrations will have a strong community focus and will reflect the importance of the tunnel to Lyttelton Harbour residents and in supporting both Christchurch’s and the South Island’s economy.

For more information please visit www.nzta.govt.nz

ENDS

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