Improvement works have begun on Halswell roads to make it safer and easier for tamariki to get to and from school.
We heard from the Halswell community, including three primary schools, that a number of streets were difficult for tamariki to cross on their way to and from school. A package of improvements(external link) was approved by the Waipuna Halswell-Hornby-Riccarton Community Board on 10 July 2025(external link).
Implementation of these improvements, which are being funded from the Minor Road Safety Programme, is being carried out in three stages beginning in December 2025 and due for completion by April 2026.
Work began on 1 December 2025 on the Dunbars Road, Hindess Street, and McMahon Drive roundabout. This will be followed by further changes on Ensign Street and at the intersection of Ensign and Lillian streets.
These works are being delivered by Higgins and were due for completion on 19 December 2025. View the start works notice(external link).
Fulton Hogan has been awarded the contract to deliver two signalised crossings at Dunbars Road and Halswell Junction Road, as well as the application of high friction surfacing to the roads to help vehicles stop and pedestrians cross safely.
These works are planned for January and February 2026, when temperatures are more appropriate for applying high-friction surfacing. There will be road closures during the delivery of the work, and we will communicate more information to residents about these.
The start work notices for these projects have more information:
Work starts on safety improvements on School Road and O'Hallaran Drive on 20 January 2026. View the start works notice(external link).
Improvements include installing a new crossing point on School Road, road marking changes on Larsens Road and a new crossing point on O’Halloran Drive.
On 26 January, our contractors will start work on safety improvements on Sabys Road and Halswell Junction Road. We’re installing new crossing points on Sabys Road and a new median island and kerb extension on Sabys Road and the Halswell Junction Road intersection. At the same time, we are installing a new watermain crossing at the Sabys Road/Halswell Junction Road intersection.
From Tuesday 27 January 2026 to Friday 20 February 2026, Sabys Road will be closed between the intersection of Halswell Junction Road and Jadewynn Place. There will be no access through this section of Sabys Road while the work is being completed.
The start works notice(external link) has more details.