We’ve built a new link road, now open, to provide a safer and more direct route for traffic travelling along Halswell Junction Road.
The new road link, which opened in late May 2025, is located just north of Main South Road, extending Halswell Junction Road in a northwest direction from Foremans Road to Waterloo Road over a new level crossing to a new signalised intersection. The map above highlights the key changes to the road layout.
This significant upgrade provides safer and easier access onto Waterloo Road for all road users, including heavy haulage vehicles, buses, cars, cyclists and pedestrians.
Following the milestone of the new road opening, work began on Panther Place (the old road link) to make it into a cul-de-sac, and at the same time work progressed on a section of the South Express Cycleway, extending it along Waterloo Road. This work wrapped up in late August 2025, marking the completion of the project.
Thank you for your patience as we carried out these important works.
More information is provided in the tab below on the project features and benefits.
From 6pm on 16 May, the existing railway level crossing at the intersection of Halswell Junction Road (now Panther Place) and Waterloo Road was permanently closed to be decommissioned. The intersection also permanently closed, with no vehicle or pedestrian access over the railway at this location.
Now that the new road link has opened, work will begin on making the old road link into a cul-de-sac, south of the railway line. The road was renamed Panther Place in April 2025.
The new street name for the cul-de-sac was consulted on with properties in this section of the street, and on 14 December 2023, the Waipuna Halswell-Hornby-Riccarton Community Board approved the name Panther Place.
Designed to improve efficiency and safety, this project delivers several important benefits, including:
- Safer and easier access onto Waterloo Road with the installation of traffic signals at the new intersection and level crossing. The new road layout also provides a more direct route through the industrial area, improving freight network connections to Waterloo Business Park and Pound Road.
- A more liveable environment for residential properties located on the old section of Halswell Junction Road (Panther Place), with reduced noise, vibration, and pollution. The new road link not only accommodates through-traffic but also serves as the new entry and exit point for two businesses that were previously accessed via the old road.
- Resealed road surfaces on Panther Place, Halswell Junction Road (between Foremans Road and Main South Road), and the intersection on Foremans Road, including a section of the road to the west.
- Safer and easier walking and cycling connections through the area.
- We created a shared path on both sides of the new road link between Foremans Road and Waterloo Road, which can be used by both pedestrians and cyclists.
- The new level crossing, which features double automatic gates, enables pedestrians and cyclists to safety cross the railway line.
- The crossing connects to the South Express Major Cycle Route(external link), which is partially completed along Waterloo Road. We will be constructing a small section of this cycleway, between Wilson and Finsbury streets, as one of the final works in this project. The cycleway’s construction is ongoing.
- Improved bus stop facilities on the new road link, including a new shelter on the southbound side and a new bus seat at the northbound stop.
- Kerb, channel and footpath renewals and landscaping enhancements.
- Upgraded water mains.
This project was consulted on between 1 September and 25 September 2017.
The community provided feedback on the proposed options for the project, which included:
Option 1 – New link
Option 2 – Upgrade of the existing road link
Option 3 – Do nothing
Find out more about the consultation.(external link)
On 30 January 2018, the Waipuna Halswell-Hornby-Riccarton Community Board met to discuss the proposal. Out of the three options, the new link was the preferred choice. The updated plans were also discussed at the Community Board meeting.
Decision
On 1 March 2018, Council approved the updated plans for the Halswell Junction Road Extension.
Get in touch
Our contractor is Fulton Hogan. You can contact them on 0800 ROAD FH (0800 7623 34) 24 hours / 7 days.