As the Lower Queen Street bridge project moves towards the finish line, we need to close the road completely for one big weekend of work.

It’s time to do the final work that is needed to open the new bridge for all traffic, which will then allow us to deconstruct the bypass road and temporary bridge. Our contractors will be working round the clock to get the opening of the new bridge done in the shortest timeframe. 

No matter which way we approach this work, all options result in some level of disruption to traffic and nearby businesses and residents. Reviewing the options, we have opted for a full weekend closure of the intersection of Lower Queen Street and McShane Road, to get the work done.

By closing the road between 7.00 pm Friday and 6.00am the following Monday, crews can complete this work by working day and night shifts, when traffic volumes are reduced. This is compared with either three weeks of stop/go, or a full weeklong closure working dayshifts only.

This will happen from 7.00 pm Friday 15th May to 6.00 am on Monday 18th May. Lower Queen Street will close from the Arvida Waimea Plains Village entrance to Sandeman Lane. This means there will be no access to McShane Road from Lower Queen Street. Headingly Lane will remain closed till project completion, forecast for mid-July.

Vehicles wanting to access or exit the Artillery Place industrial area and Nelson Pine Industries will need to use Swamp or Landsdowne Roads.

At 6.00am Monday 18 May, traffic will be directed across the new bridge, under temporary traffic management with a 30km/h temporary speed limit. Vehicles will run on the northern side of the bridge.

A mix of asphalt and chipseal surfacing will be used to open the bridge, however, this will not be the final surface. A complete asphalt surface will be placed later in June/July.

If there is bad weather, the work will be done the following weekend.