Work is set to continue on the railway level crossing upgrades along the Northern Line cycleway route. Sawyers Arms Road is the last of the three upgrades, which also included the crossings on Harewood and Langdons roads last year.

Read below about the Sawyers Arms Road level crossing upgrade, including traffic impacts, as well as details on minor watermain pipe relocation works happening on Langdons Road (night works).

Sawyers Arms Road level crossing upgrade

Traffic impacts

Work hours will generally be between the hours of 7am and 7pm. For Stages 1 and 3, the traffic impacts are the same, and the road will be reinstated back to two-way outside of work hours.

A 30km/h speed limit will be in place to keep workers and everyone safe. Please be on the lookout for changes in traffic management and follow the signs.

Stage 1: Monday 10 February until Friday 28 February

• A lane will be closed on Sawyers Arms Road at the railway crossing and temporary traffic lights will be used to manage two-way traffic through the work area. Please expect delays or plan a different travel route to avoid the area.
• Pedestrian and cyclist access across the railway crossing will be available. Please follow the signs and any instructions from staff onsite. There will also be escorts available if needed.

Stage 2: Saturday 1 March until Sunday 16 March

• Sawyers Arms Road will be closed day and night to traffic, cyclists and pedestrians at the railway crossing.
• Detour routes will be in place, with signage to redirect traffic around the road closures. Cyclists and pedestrians will also have a signposted detour route. Please allow extra travel time if you will affected by the closures.

Stage 3: Monday 17 March until Friday 11 April

(Same impacts as Stage 1)

What's happening

The Sawyers Arms Road railway level crossing is being upgraded to improve safety and access for pedestrians and cyclists using the Northern Line cycleway, which runs along the railway corridor.

What's being installing:

• New traffic signals and foundations, to create a signalised pedestrian/cycleway crossing.
• Barriers fixed with ‘Look for trains’ signage, designed to ensure pedestrians and cyclists have a clear view of the track in both directions prior to crossing.

• Additional flashing lights and bells.
• Fencing to guide pedestrians into the safe crossing points.
• Advanced detector loops on the cycleway that connect with the signals.
• Upgraded street lighting.

Other improvements: Widening the shared path areas, putting in new ducting and drainage, renewing kerb and channel; making landscaping enhancements and completing a range of engineering improvements to the railway crossing.

Cycle connections: Where there is a painted cycle lane connecting the Northern Line cycleway with the Papanui Parallel cycleway, a separate cycle lane will be constructed to upgrade this important link in the cycleway network.

These upgrades will help to ensure everyone can get to where they need to go, safely and easily.

We expect the new traffic lights will be operational in mid-2025.

Watermain pipe relocation works on Langdons Road

What's happening

In mid-February, there will be work on the westbound lane of Langdons Road to relocate an underground watermain pipe.

The watermain pipe is currently running through the inside of the stormwater pipe, which is a high risk to the water network in the case of an extreme weather event. It needs to be removed from the stormwater pipe and reinstalled underneath the stormwater pipe.

The work will involve excavation, pipe removal, pipe laying, backfilling, and restoration works.

This will be completed across three (to five) nights, from 16 February (7pm) to—at the latest— the morning of 21 February (6am).

Completing the work at night helps to minimise the disruption to road users and makes it safer for the contractors carrying out the work as there is less traffic at night.

Traffic impacts

Night (7pm to 6am):

• One-way westbound: Langdons Road will be reduced to one lane for a short section beside the work area – westbound traffic will be diverted onto the available road space. Access through this section will be for traffic traveling west only.
• Eastbound detour: Vehicles traveling east on Langdons Road will take a short detour down Chapel Street.

Please allow more travel time if you are travelling on Langdons Road between 7pm and 6am or take a different route if you are able to.

Day (6am to 7pm):

No impact during the day.

• Steel plates will be placed over the trench during the day.
• Traffic controls will be reduced to allow two-way traffic to flow as normal.

Stay in the loop

You can stay up-to-date by visiting the Council website project webpage, which has more information.

Thanks for your patience while this work is completed.