Christchurch stadium streets ‘transformed’ as upgrades completed months early

Monday, 21 July 2025

The Te Kaha Surrounding Streets project has wrapped up early delivering new footpaths, gardens, pedestrian crossings, and lights around the stadium.

Street upgrades around Christchurch’s new stadium have finished months earlier than expected with 350,000 cobblestones laid, nearly 5200 plants and 5.5km of new pipes.

The work involved replacing century-old water pipes and sprucing up the streets to make it easier for people travelling around One New Zealand Stadium at Te Kaha and the growing south-east central neighbourhood.

Some nearby businesses endured their worst trading while they felt cut off from the city and buried in road works since the work started in July 2024.

It was expected to take 18 months, but finished early this month with a final layer of asphalt to be laid on the footpaths around the stadium later this year.

City infrastructure general manager Brent Smith thanked businesses, residents and commuters for their patience during construction.

“The stadium sits at the heart of a busy neighbourhood, and while we pushed to minimise any impact, we know works can be disruptive,” Smith said.

From left; Dux Central owner Richard Sinke, Earl restaurant founder Tom Newfield, Pot Sticker Dumpling Bar owner Jason Dodd and Dux Central operations manager Ross Herrick, all eager to welcome customers to the new-look Lichfield St.

“We worked with our contractors, Isaac Construction, to find any efficiencies in the programme and get in and out as quickly as possible.”

Contractors worked weekends and occasional night shifts and carried out a 57-hour “Super Weekend“ marathon of works at the intersection of Manchester and Lichfield streets.

Lichfield St business owners previously told The Press they were eager to welcome customers back to the area after people had become accustomed to avoiding it.

Smith said the results were “great” and Lichfield Street had been “transformed” into a multi-use civic space.

“This will be a key route for people travelling between the stadium and central city by foot, tram or vehicle. The paved street ties in really well with the High Street upgrades we did last year and the wider area,” he said.

Barbadoes, Tuam and Madras streets around the stadium also have new footpaths, gardens, pedestrian crossings, and street and traffic lights.