Council gives green light to upgrade Te Kaha’s surrounding streets

Christchurch City Council has approved a suite of work to upgrade the streets around Te Kaha, Canterbury’s Multi-Use Arena, so they’re able to cope with huge influxes of pedestrians and traffic on event days once the arena opens in 2026.

The sweeping changes include a refined option to upgrade Lichfield St West between Manchester and Madras streets, which will see it retain its current dual-direction state, but with a 10km speed limit to ensure it remains safe for pedestrians.

Lichfield St West will also feature flexible outdoor dining spaces, loading and parking spaces, traffic-calming measures, retractable bollards and electronic signs to help with traffic management during larger events.

The upgrade to Lichfield St West will cost $4.5 million; this is $1.2 million more than the original option, which would have transformed the street to a one-way, pedestrian-safe road.

As well as the Lichfield St West upgrades, sweeping changes – including widening footpaths, slower speed limits, landscaping, pedestrian crossings and changing the travel direction of some streets – will be made to Lichfield, Madras, Tuam and Barbadoes streets.

Specific details on the changes to each of these streets are available on the Have Your Say page.

The entire project is expected to cost about $34 million. $11.4 million of this is ear-marked to upgrade the water supply, wastewater and stormwater pipes that are at the end of their life.

More than 1214 people and businesses had their say during the seven-week consultation on the Te Kaha Streets proposal late last year.

A Hearings Panel then worked closely with staff to consider the views of the submitters, local businesses and property developers to develop a recommendation for the Council.

For more information on Te Kaha, visit tekahaproject.co.nz