1996 National Roading Programme: Canterbury/West Coast NRP news

The Canterbury/West Coast Transfund newsletter highlighted spending in the first National Roading Programme issued by Transfund New Zealand. Key statistics included:

• $49.24m to be spent in Canterbury
• $22.91m to be spent in the West Coast
• Local road maintenance and construction was the largest output class for Canterbury at 36.2% of spending.  Passenger transport was 7.2% of spending
• State highway maintenance and construction was the largest output class for the West Coast at 58.4% of spending.

Projects of significance on state highways included:

• Otira Viaduct on SH73. Cost of $26.1m to bypass the "zigzag" section and multiple slip and earthquake prone sections of highway, significantly improving resilience on the route.
• Craigieburn Bridge replacement on SH73 at $0.63m, replacing a single lane bridge with a history of accidents.
• Washdyke Bridge replacement on SH1 at $0.63m, which was an old two-lane stone bridge bottleneck on a three-lane section of highway.
• Additional passing lanes north of Rakaia overbridge, SH1

Projects of significance on local roads included:

• Rolleston railway crossing replacement, removing a dangerous level crossing that was the site of the infamous Southerner accident.
• Seven cycleway improvements in Christchurch City
• Committed improvements to the intersection of Moorhouse Avenue, Madras Street and Manchester Street in Christchurch City
• 1km seal extension on Inland Kaikoura Route in Kaikoura District

Unlike the Dunedin regional office newsletter, this newsletter contains detailed lists of projects approved, across State Highways 1, 73 and 6 and local road projects in Christchurch City, Hurunui District, Timaru District, Waimakariri District and Grey District.