Find relevant project information about work in the area.

Get the latest on work happening in Bishopdale and Papanui

The next project happening in the Bishopdale and Papanui area is the Sawyers Arms Road level crossing upgrade, starting on 10 February 2025. Some minor pipe relocation works will also be carried out in February. More information is provided on this page.

Northern Line cycleway level crossing upgrades

Langdons Road railway level crossing

We’re working with KiwiRail to complete essential renewals and safety upgrades at the railway level crossings on Harewood, Langdons and Sawyers Arms roads.

In 2024, we renewed the railway tracks and foundations on Harewood Road and installed new signalised pedestrian crossings and automatic railway gates at the Harewood and Langdons level crossings to support the Northern Line cycleway, which runs along the railway corridor.

From February 2025, we'll begin work to install a signalised pedestrian crossing at the Sawyers Arms Road level crossing along with other upgrades. Then we'll transition all three crossings from using the old signals and bells to the new ones, approximately by mid-2025.

Find more information in the sections below.

All project information

1. Harewood Road level crossing upgrade (near complete)

In 2024, we worked on the Harewood Road railway level crossing to improve safety and access for pedestrians and cyclists using the Northern Line cycleway, which runs along the railway corridor.

We've partnered with KiwiRail to deliver a range of safety upgrades, including a signalised pedestrian crossing that will make it safer and easier to get across the busy road. We've also replaced the full length of the railway track across the road and installed new foundations.

In addition, automatic railway gates have been installed to make it safer for pedestrians/cyclists on Harewood Road to cross the tracks. The gates will also be used by people using the cycleway, as it crosses from being on the western railway corridor to the eastern side at Harewood Road.

The new signalised pedestrian crossings and automatic railway gates will not be commissioned for use until after work at all three crossings is complete, in early to mid-2025. 

This is because the new pedestrian crossings, automatic railway gates and new flashing lights and bells have been designed in one new interlocking signalling system across Harewood Road, Langdons Road and Sawyers Arms Road railway crossings.

Upgrade works at all three crossings must be completed before the switchover can happen from the old signalling system to the new one.

Why an upgrade is needed

Man cycling on the Northern Line cycleway. The average daily traffic on Harewood Road, recorded at a traffic counter(external link) beside the railway crossing, is 13,840.

On the Northern Line cycleway, which crosses Harewood Road, there are more than 500 daily cycle trips recorded on average (data is recorded at the Fendalton Road railway crossing).

Students walking on foot to Papanui High School – just north of Harewood Road and accessible by the Northern Line cycleway – will also benefit from the signalised crossing.

Due to the higher traffic volumes and risk at Harewood Road, we incorporated more significant railway crossing upgrades into the design of the cycleway at this location, to ensure the safety of cyclists and pedestrians.

Significant track renewal works were also completed in the Harewood Road railway crossing upgrade to improve the road and track's resilience. These measures were required to comply with current KiwiRail standards. 

Renewals and safety upgrades

We've installed:

  • A new concrete slab foundation across the road with a full-length railway track replacement.
  • New traffic signals and foundations, to create a signalised pedestrian/cycleway crossing.
  • Automatic pedestrian railway gates and foundations, for safe access across the railway tracks on both sides of the 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.
  • A raised platform on Restell Street to encourage safe speeds.

We also relocated underground utilities, widened the shared path areas, made landscaping enhancements and completed a range of engineering improvements to the railway crossing.

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

2. Langdons Road level crossing upgrade (near complete)

Langdons Road railway level crossing

In 2024, we worked on the Langdons Road railway level crossing to improve safety and access for pedestrians and cyclists using the Northern Line cycleway, which runs along the railway corridor.

We’ve been partnering with KiwiRail to deliver a range of safety upgrades, including a signalised pedestrian crossing that will make it safer and easier to get across the busy road.

We've also installed automatic pedestrian gates to make it safer for pedestrians and cyclists on Langdons Road to cross the tracks.

The new signalised pedestrian crossings and automatic railway gates will not be commissioned for use until after work at all three crossings is complete, in early to mid-2025.

This is because the new pedestrian crossings, automatic railway gates and new flashing lights and bells have been designed in one new interlocking signalling system across Harewood Road, Langdons Road and Sawyers Arms Road railway crossings.

Upgrade works at all three crossings must be completed before the switch over can happen from the old signalling system to the new one.

School children and adult cycling on the Northern Line cycleway

Why an upgrade is needed

The average daily traffic on Langdons Road, recorded at a traffic counter(external link) beside the railway crossing, is 12,535.

On the Northern Line cycleway, which crosses Langdons Road, there are more than 500 daily cycle trips recorded on average (data is recorded at the Fendalton Road railway crossing).

Additionally, students walking on foot to Papanui High School – just north of Langdons Road and accessible by the Northern Line cycleway – will benefit from the signalised crossing.

As with Harewood and Sawyers Arms roads, Langdons Road has higher traffic volumes and risk than other roads along the cycleway route.

Due to this, we planned more significant railway crossing upgrades into the design of the cycleway at this location, to ensure the safety of cyclists and pedestrians.

These measures were required to comply with current KiwiRail standards.

We’re doing the upgrades now, as our programme and resourcing are coordinated with KiwiRail, who have availability for the Harewood Road and Langdons Road works in 2024.

Safety upgrades

We've installed:

  • New traffic signals and foundations, to create a signalised pedestrian/cycleway crossing.
  • Automatic pedestrian railway gates for safe access across the railway tracks on both sides of the 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.

We've also widened the shared path areas, made landscaping enhancements, and completed a range of engineering improvements at the railway crossing.

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

3. Sawyers Arms Road level crossing upgrade (Feb to April)

We’re upgrading the Sawyers Arms Road railway level crossing to improve safety and access for pedestrians and cyclists using the Northern Line cycleway, which runs along the railway corridor.

We’ve partnered with KiwiRail to deliver a range of safety upgrades, including a signalised pedestrian crossing that will make it safer and easier to get across the busy road. Find more details below.

Our construction programme for Sawyers Arms Road railway crossing begins on 10 February 2025 and runs until 11 April 2025. We also carried out some preparation work in early November.

The upcoming work will be carried out in three stages, with distinct changes to traffic impacts. Find dates and impacts below – note: Stage 1 and 3 are identical.

Traffic impacts

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

A 30km/h speed limit will be in place so we can keep our 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 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

  • A lane will be closed on Sawyers Arms Road at the railway crossing and temporary traffic lights will be used to manage 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.

Why an upgrade is needed

The average daily traffic on Sawyers Arms Road, recorded at a traffic counter(external link) beside the railway crossing, is 5,310.

On the Northern Line cycleway, which intersects Sawyers Arms Road, there are more than 500 daily cycle trips recorded on average (data is recorded at the Fendalton Road railway crossing).

Students walking on foot to Papanui High School – just south of Sawyers Arms Road and accessible by the Northern Line cycleway – will also benefit from the signalised crossing.

While Sawyers Arms Road has higher traffic volumes and risk than other roads along the cycleway route, it has less than half the traffic volume of Harewood and Langdons roads.

To reflect this, the signalised crossing was planned into the design of the cycleway at this location, but not the automatic pedestrian gates. Instead, design features help to ensure pedestrians and cyclists have a clear view of the track in both directions prior to crossing.

These measures comply with current KiwiRail standards.

Safety upgrades

Look for trains signage at a railway crossing We're installing:

  • New traffic signals and foundations, to create a signalised pedestrian/cycleway crossing.
  • Barriers (pictured) 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.

We’ll also be 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.

Where there is a painted cycle lane connecting the Northern Line cycleway with the Papanui Parallel cycleway, we will construct a separate cycle lane 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.

4. Watermain pipe relocation on Langdons Road (Feb)

In mid-February 2025, we will be working 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. We need to remove it from the stormwater pipe and reinstall it 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.

Benefits of shared path cycleways

Woman walking her dog on a shared path. Shared path cycleways make it safer and easier to bike and scooter around Christchurch, while also providing convenient routes for walking or running. Whether used as a way to get to work or school, or for recreation or even walking the dog, our major cycleway routes enable people to enjoy fun, affordable and healthy travel.

Cycle numbers are continuing to grow as as more routes link up different parts of the city. We want to make Christchurch a more liveable city and make it easier for people who are choosing cycling as their main mode of transport. 

As our population grows, it benefits everyone when more people take up cycling to get around, as it helps to reduce congestion and emissions. When we construct or upgrade cycleways, we also make improvements that benefit the whole community.

For the Northern Line railway crossing upgrades, we've programmed our work to include KiwiRail renewals, such as the replacement of the train tracks and foundations on Harewood Road. This will ensure the long-term resilience of the railway level crossing, while reducing disruption to the area by combining all the work into one project.

Other community benefits include upgrades that will make it easier and safer to cross both the road and the railway tracks, improving access to local schools and retirement villages. We're also making landscaping enhancements. With the new signalised pedestrian crossings, the road environment at the cycleway crossing points will also be less hazardous for drivers travelling through the area.