End of the slog: Roadworks around Christchurch’s new stadium wrap up

Friday, 19 December 2025

Roadworks that at times turned a quick trip through Christchurch into a half-hour slog are finally over.

The work around the city’s new stadium, called the Te Kaha Surrounding Streets project, has been completed and lane closures have been lifted.

The upgrades, which went on for over a year, involved replacing century-old water pipes and sprucing up the streets to make it easier for people travelling around.

But the disruptions were “devastating” for commuters and some businesses who felt cut off from the city and buried in roadworks.

The project kicked off in July 2024 and was supposed to take 18 months. It actually finished ahead of schedule, wrapping up the major stuff earlier this year before disruptions came about again for a final round of footpath work.

Contractor Isaac Construction said on Friday it had completed the works.

“We want to thank those who live, work, or travel through the area for their patience and understanding over the last year and a half,” it said.

The asphalting and paving works along Barbadoes, Tuam, and Madras streets has been completed, and street furniture, bike stands and a bus shelter have been installed.

Temporary fencing has been moved back to the stadium boundary, allowing road lanes to reopen. The fences will remain in place to keep the stadium secure.

The footpath on Barbadoes St, closest to the stadium, will, however, remain closed until the stadium opens in April so workers can continue to work safely.

The city council echoed thanking people for their patience, and said finishing the footpaths brings the city’s new stadium another step closer to completion.

Though while traffic will be flowing again around the stadium, Google Maps data showed other main routes in the city were slow with heavy traffic on Friday afternoon.

Signalled “red” stretches were prevalent along Moorhouse Ave, Blenheim Rd, Lincoln Rd, Hereford St, Manchester St, Colombo St, Deans Ave, and Brougham St.

Early next year a team will be back to freshen up line markings and green cycleway paint in the area to “ensure the streets are looking their best for the stadium opening”.

Speed limits will remain at 50kph in the surrounding streets, apart from on Lichfield St between Madras and Manchester streets, which will be 30kph.

Nearly 5200 plants, 5.5km of new pipes and 350,000 cobblestones were laid during the project.

Lichfield St business owners previously told The Press they were eager to welcome customers back to the area after people had avoided it. Customers who typically took five to 10 minutes to reach a gym on Madras St spent 30 to 35 minutes in traffic because of the disruptions.