Work and projects that we've already completed in the OARC.
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Christchurch City Council submitted investment cases to both the Crown and the Christchurch Earthquake Appeal Trust for funding to kick-start the development of the Regeneration Area, and received $40 million from the Canterbury Regeneration Acceleration Fund and $13.7 million from the Appeal Trust. These funds enabled us to deliver three bridges and a riverside landing, all of which were completed in 2022.
Note the names for these completed projects have not been confirmed and could change in the future.
The Dallington Landing – opened March 2022
Carrying a theme of “a picnic in the forest”, the Dallington riverside landing (pictured) next to Gayhurst Road is the first of a number of landings that will be built along the Ōtākaro Avon River. The Dallington Landing features two shelters, public toilets, a koru-shaped pathway, picnic tables, and access to the Ōtākaro Avon River, to encourage people to connect with each other, the river and the Regeneration Area.
Avondale Bridge – opened March 2022
The Avondale Bridge was the first of the three bridges to be completed. It crosses the river from the end of Briarmont Street to the regeneration area adjacent to New Brighton Road, providing an important connection between Avondale and the ecologically restored wetlands planned for the future Eastern Reach.
Medway Street Bridge – opened May 2022
A new version of the twisted and distorted bridge that became a symbol for the power of the Canterbury earthquakes was reinstated in May, when the Medway Street footbridge was opened. For the first time since the earthquakes, people can now walk or bike over the river from where Medway Street meets River Road across to Avonside Drive.
After the original Medway Street bridge was removed in 2013 it was cut into three sections before being stored at Ferrymead Heritage Park.
In 2018 a section was returned to the site as a memorial structure and sits near the bridge’s original location, on the Avonside side of the river.
Snell Place Bridge – opened May 2022
The new Snell Place bridge opening marked the completion of the first bridges and landings to be constructed in the OARC. Spanning the Ōtākaro Avon River from near the Snell Place/Locksley Avenue intersection to Avonside Drive, this bridge will play a key role in the future City to Sea pathway that will run from the city to New Brighton.