MEDIA RELEASE

8 March 2016 | SOUTHERN REGION

Changes at Christchurch’s Russley Road/ Memorial Avenue major airport roundabout - coming up

From Sunday, 20 March, the Russley Road/ Memorial Avenue roundabout, the main access to Christchurch’s International Airport is undergoing a major change which may cause some delays.

The new roundabout will be very large and oblong-shaped, controlled not only by Give Way signs, but also traffic signals on both the city and airport sides of Memorial Avenue and on the roundabout itself.

“The new, much larger and longer roundabout will operate using a combination of Give Way and traffic signals,” says Colin Knaggs, Highway Manager, NZ Transport Agency. “The traffic signals will stop traffic coming from Russley Road so drivers from Memorial Avenue will be able to enter the roundabout.”

“Drivers need to be careful while everyone gets used to the new configuration. In some places it will be three lanes wide,” he said. “It will look quite different with the roundabout stretching 500 metres along Russley Road, but ultimately it is a roundabout and the normal road rules apply.”

In particular people need to:

• Make sure you are in the correct lane when you enter the roundabout by following the road marking and signage.

• Indicate your intentions if you change lanes on the roundabout and as you exit the roundabout.

• And, please obey the traffic signals.

Cyclists and pedestrians will be able to cross at the traffic signals and will have access through the roundabout island to the signals on the opposite side.

This interim layout was chosen as it will reduce the number of temporary traffic changes needed while crews build the major overbridge in the roundabout’s centre island, part of the Russley Road Upgrade, (part of the Roads of National Significance Christchurch Motorways Project), which will be operational in two years.

When the overbridge is finished - Russley Road (SH1) will go over Memorial Avenue on the bridge, with a signalised intersection below, including on and off-ramps for drivers heading to the airport and Memorial Avenue.

“The Transport Agency thanks everyone for taking care while we all get used to the new roundabout and building in extra time for trips to the airport,” said Colin Knaggs.

© Scoop Media