We’re building new separated cycleways in both directions on Antigua Street between Moorhouse Avenue and St Asaph Street to improve cycle connections and safety in the central city.
The project also includes a watermain renewal to replace pipes which have reached the end of their serviceable life. The new pipes will be upgraded in size to help meet increasing demands generated by our growing city. Additionally, the road and western footpath will be renewed as part of the project.
Work began in May 2025, and is expected to be completed in October, ahead of the opening of the new Parakiore Recreation and Sport Centre(external link).
The design of the street upgrade focuses on safety and accessibility for all users along Antigua Street, including cyclists, pedestrians, local businesses and the Parakiore facility.
We will also be enhancing the area with new street trees and landscaping.
The key features of the design include:
- A 2.4m wide northbound separated cycleway on the west side of the road (beside the northbound lane which runs alongside Parakiore). To retain the maximum road space, we’ve utilised some Parakiore land for this cycle lane.
- A 2.3m wide southbound separated cycleway on the east side of Antigua Street. This transitions to a 2.2m wide cycle lane south of Moorhouse Avenue.
- A pedestrian and cycle crossing point in the middle of the block, near the entrance to Parakiore and just south of Halkett Street.
- Two raised speed thresholds (outside 184 Antigua Street and 230b Antigua Street) to encourage motorists to travel at a safe speed. The road has been operating at 30km/h since the construction of Parakiore started, and will remain at 30km/h during construction. Following the works, the speed will become 50km/h again; however, it is anticipated that, given the design of the road, the actual operating speed will be closer to 30km/h.
- On-street parking on the west side of Antigua Street only. All parking on the east side will be removed to allow enough space for the new separated cycleway and to provide clearer sightlines from driveways, making a safer environment for cyclists and pedestrians.
- Renewed and widened footpath on the west side of Antigua Street to accommodate the expected increased pedestrian use, driven by Parakiore Recreation and Sport Centre. The footpath will run adjacent to the northbound cycle lane.
- New landscaping along Antigua Street which includes new rain gardens and street trees.
- Installation of two P10 parking spaces on Halkett Street outside Antigua Food Bar to assist with customers who require short-term convenience parking when visiting businesses along Antigua Street.
Antigua Street, between Moorhouse Avenue and St Asaph Street, reopened to two-way traffic on Friday 10 October.
In the week commencing 13 October, we will install the green cycleway paint over a few nights, with no impact to vehicle traffic. There will be localised traffic management in place along the cycleway and footpath but there will be detours in place for cyclists and pedestrians around the works.
Minor works will continue over the weeks that follow until the project is fully complete.
This project was consulted on between 15 February and 15 March 2022. The consultation included proposed improvements to the Antigua Street footbridge, which are also being constructed in 2025 as a separate project, between early June and early July.
The Antigua Street cycle connection received 117 submissions, and the Antigua Street footbridge received 95 submissions.
The majority of submitters commented on both projects, with a small number commenting on just one.
See the details of the consultation(external link).
Decision
A hearing was held on Monday 11 April 2022. You can read the meeting agenda and minutes(external link).
The Hearings Panel recommendation was approved by Council on 12 May 2022. Read the minutes(external link).
Why we’re building a cycleway
Antigua Street is a key cycle connection used by approximately 1000 to 1200 cyclists every day. This is because south of Moorhouse Avenue, Antigua Street is the final stretch for one of our busiest major cycle routes, Quarryman’s Trail, which leads from Halswell.
North of Antigua Street, there is also the Uni-Cycle Major Cycle Route carrying people between Riccarton and the central city via Hagley Park, as well as the east and west central city cycleway networks on St Asaph Street (eastbound) and Tuam Street (westbound).
The section of Antigua Street we’re upgrading – between Moorhouse Avenue and St Asaph Street – sits between these key cycleway routes and directly alongside Parakiore Recreation and Sport Centre, which is due to open late 2025.
Currently, a temporary cycleway is in place along this part of the road. A redesigned streetscape with permanently separated cycleways will make the road much safer for people who travel by bike, whether for work, school, shopping, or recreation.
Map of the nearby cycleway connections. [JPG, 387 KB]
To explore all the cycle connections in the city, view the Christchurch Bike Map.(external link)