Bicycles and feet traverse the Christchurch North Corridor Highway

Canterbury’s shiny new expressway will give residents “options” on how to travel, says Transportation Minister Michael Wood.

The locals were in the north corridor on Saturday for a “day trip” in which they were invited to travel by bicycle and on foot along the new road.

The $ 290 million motorway connects St Albans with SH1 and the Waimakariri district and bypasses the residential suburbs of Belfast, Northwood and Redwood, with the aim of easing congestion on Main North Road.

The road was closed to traffic and the 10-kilometer shared-use road was opened for the first time, where staff were on site to point people in the right direction.

READ MORE:
* The north corridor should be used to speed up movement
* Christchurch North Corridor Expressway delayed due to slow ground settlement
* $ 500 million in new Christchurch highways over six months

Christchurch mother Maggie Batenburg said she was particularly impressed with the corridor’s bike lanes.

“It is almost like a small network of bicycle motorways. There are exits, way signs, and underpasses so you don’t have to cross busy intersections. It really surprised me how much thought had gone into the bike lanes. It will definitely encourage people to ride bikes. “

The mother of two bought an electric cargo bike just before the lockdown, intending to cycle to kindergarten and then work. However, road safety fears had deterred her, until now.

“I think the more the city can do for security that encourages more cycling, the better.”

The new corridor would also ease congestion on currently “chocka” roads, he said.

The open house included an event village with a bouncy castle, ice cream, coffee and sausages near Belfast Rd.

Wood said investing in infrastructure was “a key part of the government’s economic plan.”

The project would create “hundreds of jobs”, help improve the skills of local workers and support the region’s economic recovery by allowing cargo to move quickly to the port of Lyttelton, he said.

The government is “laying the foundation for the future” by investing in public transport infrastructure, he said.

The highway will have lanes for vehicles with two or more passengers and will connect with the park and attractions in Kaiapoi and Rangiora.

The park and the rides would have direct bus services to and from downtown Christchurch, making it easier for commuters to carpool or take the bus, Wood said.

“By giving people real transportation options, we are helping more people leave their cars at home, reducing congestion and emissions.”

The highway and shared road will open fully on December 17.

On January 11, carpool lanes will be operational, parking and transportation facilities will open, and direct bus services will begin from Kaiapoi or Rangiora to central Christchurch.