Part of State Highway 76/Brougham Street in Christchurch is due to be closed overnight later this week to allow the installation of a new cycling and pedestrian bridge over the highway.

The new bridge is a key component of the SH76/Brougham Street upgrade project by New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA).

Weather-permitting, the bridge is expected to be lifted into place late on Friday night (26 June) or into the early hours of Saturday (27 June), with the section of SH76/Brougham Street between the Barrington Street off-ramp and Selwyn Street to be closed from 8pm Friday through to 5am Saturday. Access to adjoining Spencer Street, and the Barrington Street east-side on and off ramps, is also scheduled to be closed off. A detour will be available via Whiteleigh Avenue, Moorhouse Avenue and Selwyn Street, with heavy vehicles able to use Durham or Montreal Streets.

If the weather is unsuitable on Friday-Saturday, the bridge installation and closure may be postponed. Notification will be provided if this rescheduling is required.

A full road closure is necessary so that crews can use two large cranes to lift the 37m section of bridge, known as the bridge ‘truss’, over the road and carefully position it into place. During this time, it will not be safe for vehicles, cyclists or pedestrians to travel underneath. Footpaths and cycle access around the worksite will remain open, with a few short detours in place.

Some noise from trucks, machinery and the crews involved will be unavoidable, and additional lighting will be needed so people can work safely, but everything possible will be done to minimise the disruption to residents living nearby.

The new bridge will provide a safer, traffic-free crossing for people walking, biking, or scooting, with a direct, uninterrupted connection to nearby schools, workplaces, and residential areas. It is expected to be fully complete and open to the public by November this year.

NZTA thanks people for their patience and understanding as this work is carried out.

More information:

SH76 Brougham Street upgrade(external link)

What the new SH76/Brougham Street bridge will look like when complete; and the road closure area.