Downer appointed for second stage of Christchurch freight-route upgrade

New Zealand Transport Minister Chris Bishop said on 23 October that Downer had been appointed to carry out Stage Two of the SH76 Brougham Street upgrade in Christchurch. Planning for the phase was under way, with work on the ground expected to begin in the new year.

SH76 is one of Christchurch’s busiest streets and the main freight route to the South Island’s largest port, Lyttelton, according to the ministerial release. The government said congestion and delays have affected the corridor, while nearby schools and a retirement home have raised safety concerns.

The announcement came as a new pedestrian and cycle bridge was already in place between Collins and Simeon Streets. NZ Transport Agency expected the bridge to open to the public in November 2026, with landscaping and other Stage One finishing work due by early 2027.

Stage Two is expected to include upgraded traffic signals and intersections, T2 lanes for vehicles carrying at least two occupants, new signalised crossings and walking and cycling infrastructure. A shared path is planned along the south side of Brougham Street.

NZTA and Christchurch City Council must coordinate the sequence of road works because the council has maintenance work planned on underground services beneath the road. The agencies say coordination is intended to avoid repeated excavation and reduce disruption for road users.

The government said the project is expected to be complete by mid-2029. Cabinet had previously set aside a tagged contingency in Budget 2024 to let NZTA bring forward priority projects. The announcement describes a contractor appointment and planned works; it does not report that Stage Two construction has started.

The second stage is described as a package of intersection and access changes, rather than a new highway bypass. Planned elements include traffic signals, intersection upgrades, T2 lanes, pedestrian crossings and a shared walking and cycling path. The announcement identifies the road as a major freight route to Port Lyttelton, placing the work within a port-access corridor used by commercial and local traffic.

Downer’s appointment moves the project into its next delivery stage, with construction expected to begin in the new year and completion targeted for mid-2029. The release notes coordination with Christchurch City Council on underground utilities. Stage one’s pedestrian bridge was expected to open in November; it is a separate component and that stated expectation does not confirm it has opened. The source does not provide a total project cost or quantified travel-time benefit.