Tuesday 23 July 2013

Night-works on Ferrymead Bridge and Main Road Sumner set to improve journeys for residents

Starting on Sunday 28 July, two separate sets of night-works, the temporary Ferrymead Bridge, and the stretch of road from Main Road to Shag Rock in Sumner, will help improve the routes for vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians.

Transport and Greenspace Unit Manager, John Mackie says, "For both these works, we have listened to our residents and arranged the timings so as to minimise the impact on the community."

The temporary Ferrymead Bridge resurfacing
The temporary Ferrymead Bridge will be resurfaced to reduce noise and be easier on vehicles. A stop/go traffic system is planned to start on Sunday 28 July at 8pm.

Christchurch City Council contractors will be installing an additional layer of timber running planks on both of the temporary bridges. The timber planks will have a chip seal coating. These planks will be screwed to the existing timber deck by hand, so to install the planks and surfacing safely, the works will be undertaken at night, one bridge at a time.

Mr Mackie says, "These improvements will soften the ride over the bridge whilst also reducing the noise levels of traffic over the bridges, news which as been received well by the local Community Board, residents and business owners in Sumner."

While one bridge is closed, the other bridge will remain open to the public. To allow the route to remain open to the public over night, the remaining bridge will operate as a single lane bridge with full stop/go manual control. Delays will be kept to five minutes from either approach, where possible, while the stop/go control is in place. Emergency service vehicles will be given priority. Pedestrians and cyclist will use the footpath on the open bridge.

The night works and stop/go control over the single lane bridge are expected to take up to two weeks of night shifts, starting on Sunday 28 July at 8pm, and working through the night and re-opening the two lanes at 6am.

Construction of the new Ferrymead Bridge is still expected to continue until winter 2015, and the temporary bridges need to be maintained until that time. We apologise for any inconvenience.

Main Road to Shag Rock road closure
Main Road to Sumner at Shag Rock Reserve will be closed overnight for up to five nights between 10.30pm and 5.30am starting Sunday 28 July.

The closure is needed to allow shipping containers to be shifted back so that new cycleways can be installed. A detour will be in place up Evans Pass Road, Summit Road and through to Mount Pleasant during the closures.

Mr Mackie says, "Putting back the cycleways on the narrow stretch of road had been a key community request. We've been talking to residents this week about the planned work and what this means for them and we continue to do so. We are directing the contractor to work in a way that minimises disruption; however the road closure needs to happen so that the containers can be shifted safely."

If weather deteriorates, making the detour difficult to pass, work will stop and Main Road will open. Should bad weather cause delays, work will not recommence until the following week - we will not close Main Road on Friday or Saturday night.

Buses will continue to operate using a shuttle service up over the detour and emergency services will be able to go through the Main Road work - they will have a direct contact to contractors to advise them they need to get through.

The Council is assisting in removing artwork from the containers, which will be put back in place once the work has finished.

Both sets of work are weather dependent.

For further information on traffic updates in Christchurch please visit www.transportforchristchurch.govt.nz

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