Road users are being encouraged to plan ahead as Canterbury’s Lyttelton Tunnel closes tonight, for the first of three consecutive nights, so that its fire protection system can be tested.

The closure will take effect from 11pm tonight and the tunnel will reopen at 5am tomorrow. During this closure, the tunnel will open on the hour, every hour, for about 10 minutes to clear queued traffic in both directions.

The same length of closure, with hourly openings, will take place on Wednesday and Thursday nights, with the work due to be complete by 5am Friday (17 July).

This ‘deluge testing’ work is necessary to ensure that the tunnel is safe for all users and meets the required standards. 

People can also travel between Lyttelton and Christchurch via Cashmere - Dyers Pass Road and Governors Bay Road, or via Sumner - Evans Pass Road and Sumner Road, though these are longer routes than the tunnel.

We thank people for their patience and understanding as this important safety work is completed.