We're installing traffic lights at the intersection of Yaldhurst, Riccarton and Main South roads (Church Corner).
We're making road safety improvements at Church Corner
We're working between Sunday 27 April and late May 2025 to make it safer and easier for everyone to use this intersection – whether driving, walking, biking, scooting or catching the bus.
We're installing traffic lights at the intersection to help reduce the risk of a crash for people turning right. This will retain the left and right hand turns from Main South Road to Riccarton and Yaldhurst roads.
Our work also includes adding marked cycle lanes, a signalised pedestrian and cycle crossing, a short section of bus lane on Riccarton Road, and speed humps on all approaches to the intersection.
During construction, Main South Road will be closed in the evenings to eastbound traffic coming from State Highway 73. Westbound traffic from Riccarton Road will be unable to access Yaldhurst Road. Detours will be clearly signposted.
See the work notice(external link) or our Newsline story(external link) for more information about this work.
Church Corner decision-making
We consulted on three new options(external link) for the Yaldhurst Rd, Riccarton Rd and Main South Rd intersection in October and November 2024. The elected Council approved Option C - Traffic lights with signalised pedestrian crossing on 4 December 2024(external link).
You can learn more about the consultation submissions(external link) and watch the Council decision being made(external link).
The intersection is in the top 3% in Christchurch for crash risk, with 76 crashes in a 10-year period involving right turns from Main South Road, including three serious injuries and seven minor injuries.
Recent safety improvements in Upper Riccarton
We made the following changes at key intersections and crossing points in late 2024:
- Installed safe speed platforms on the approaches to the Riccarton Road/Hansons Lane/Waimairi Road intersection.
- Removed the slip lane from Riccarton Road onto Waimairi Road.
- Added a new signalised crossing on Waimairi Road, between Riccarton Road and Bowen Street, outside the Bush Inn Centre.
- Added cycle lanes on Waimairi Road and changed the bus stop and parking markings.
- Installed speed humps on Angela Street, Brake Street, Leslie Street and Bowen Street.
- Installed a pedestrian refuge island on Yaldhurst Road close to the intersection with Brake Street.
- Removed the left turn slip lane from Main South Road into Curletts Road and provided a left turn lane at the signals.
We made these changes because there were 35 reported crashes at the intersection of Riccarton Road, Hansons Lane and Waimairi Road over 10 years, including incidents where a motorcyclist was killed and another seriously injured.
Public feedback on the plans(external link) was received in late 2023. These safety improvements were then approved by the Waipuna Halswell-Hornby-Riccarton Community Board and Council.