An important milestone has been reached with early physical work now underway on the Belfast to Pegasus Motorway and Woodend Bypass (B2P) project.

“This is a Road of National Significance project that local communities and road users have waited a long time for, as congestion has worsened over the years,” says Richard Osborne, system design regional manager for New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA).

“It is exciting to see early physical work now happening that will move the B2P project forward and set it up for future decision-making around the main construction. The project has also recently been accepted into the Fast-track process.” 

“The B2P project will provide for an approximately 11km four-lane motorway extension north of Christchurch and a bypass that will reduce the heavy traffic burden on State Highway 1 through the town of Woodend. The NZTA Board has approved funding of about $127 million for detailed design, property acquisition and the early work.”

“This early work includes the seismic strengthening of the Kaiapoi River Bridge so it can safely carry an additional southbound lane into the existing central median between the Lineside Road intersection and the Ohoka Road southbound slip lane, to be built as part of the main construction. 

“A contract was awarded to Hunter Civil in December to complete this bridge strengthening work that is now underway.”

“The other main part of the B2P early work is preparing the ground for roading north of Pineacres. This will be done by partially filling two man-made quarry lakes to create a solid base and embankment for the new road. Around 180,000 cubic metres of bulk fill material will be brought in by trucks and tipped into the lakes and then compacted at a later date.”

“A contract has been awarded to Downer for this quarry lake infill, with this work expected to begin around March of this year.”

“One of the tools to help pay for projects like B2P is tolling, and NZTA recently sought public feedback on the proposed addition of tolling to the new roading system. We will be providing the Transport Minister a formal proposal on the B2P tolling soon, so that he can take it to Cabinet for a decision in due course.”