SH76 Brougham Street upgrade

Project update

Updating the community

Safety around the worksite and temporary crossing

Two stage project construction approach

• What’s included in stage one

  Stage one of the project focuses on constructing the new Brougham Pedestrian Cycle Bridge between Collins Street and Simeon Street over Brougham Street. An essential piece of infrastructure that will improve safety and traffic flow at this key intersection. This bridge will separate people walking, cycling and scooting from the busy Brougham Street corridor, significantly improving safety and reducing delays.

  The key features of stage one are:

  • The bridge providing a safer, traffic-free crossing for people walking, biking, or scooting, with a direct, uninterrupted connection to nearby schools, workplaces, and residential areas.
  • Changes to the road layout to discourage drivers from using the Barrington Street on and off-ramps to bypass queues on Brougham Street. This behaviour increases congestion for everyone on the corridor, and the new layout will help keep traffic flowing more fairly and efficiently.
  • Landscaping and urban design improvements around the bridge, including the cul-de-sacing of Colins and Simeon Streets, to remove through traffic and create a safer and more welcoming environment for people using the bridge.
  • Early utility relocation and site preparation to minimise disruption during later stages of construction.

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• What’s included in stage two

  Stage two will deliver the wider corridor improvements along Brougham Street once property acquisition and consenting are complete. This stage focuses on making the corridor safer, more efficient, and better connected for all users.

  Key features include:

  • T2 lanes on Brougham Street for vehicles with two or more occupants, buses, and motorcyclists. These will operate during peak hours to move more people efficiently and provide more reliable travel times for freight and other drivers in the remaining two lanes. On-street parking will be removed to make space for the lanes but will be available during off-peak times.
  • Upgraded intersections and smart traffic signals to improve safety, reduce delays, and prioritise more sustainable travel modes.
  • A new signalised intersection at Montreal Street and removal of the right turn at Durham Street South to better guide traffic into the central city’s one-way system. A new pedestrian crossing will also be included at Montreal Street.
  • Intersection improvements and signal optimisation to improve access along, onto, off, and across Brougham Street for all modes of transport.
  • More protected right turns (green arrow signals) to improve safety and reduce crash risks.
  • Improved walking and cycling infrastructure, including a new shared cycle path along the south side of Brougham Street and safer crossings that connect to schools, parks, and residential areas.
  • Enhanced public transport facilities at the Colombo Street and Selwyn Street intersections to make bus travel more efficient and more attractive.

  Urban design and liveability improvements in surrounding residential areas, including the creation of cul-de-sacs to reduce through-traffic and improve safety and amenity.

  These improvements will help reduce congestion, support reliable freight movement, and encourage more people to choose active and shared transport options, creating long-term benefits for the community, economy, and environment

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• What does this mean for the people who use Brougham Street?

  When you are walking along Brougham Street you can use the existing footpath on the north side of the street, or the shared path along the southern side of the street. Getting across intersections will be safer and easier, with improved signalised crossings at all intersections and new signalised crossings. Changes to vehicle access on some streets will reduce the number of cars turning across your path. You’ll be able to use raised pedestrian crossings in some places or you can avoid traffic completely by using the new bridge.

  When you are cycling or scooting you can use the new shared path alongside those walking, with all the same safety benefits. This shared path is also a great way for you to connect with existing Major Cycle Routes in the area, such as the Little River Link west of Simeon Street and the Quarryman’s Trail on Antigua Street. There will be dedicated space for cyclists at intersections and new painted cycle lanes to connect into existing Major Cycle Routes in the area.

  If you’re catching the bus your driver will be able to beat some of the morning and evening congestion by using the new T2 lanes, providing more reliable travel times. Upgraded traffic signals at the intersections of Colombo and Selwyn Street let buses go ahead of other vehicles too.

  When you are driving along Brougham Street and there’s two or more people in the vehicle, you’ll be able to save yourself some time by driving in a T2 lane. If you’re a passenger, you also get to enjoy a bit of down time! You will be sharing this lane with buses, and people on motorcycles.

  You will not be able to use the T2 lane if you are by yourself, but you will still benefit from reduced traffic. Every car you see in the T2 lane means two fewer cars in your lane. New right-turn signals at major intersections will make it safer and easier for you to turn off or onto Brougham Street and get where you’re going. There will be some changes to vehicle access that may take some adjusting to, with ‘no turn’ signs added on certain side streets, and on-street parking available only during off-peak hours to allow for the T2 lane during peak times.

  If you’re riding your motorbike along Brougham Street you will experience most of the same changes as other vehicles on the road (see above), with one exception. You will be able to drive in the T2 lane during peak times, even if you don’t have a passenger.

  If you drive a truck, you’ll notice a difference at the traffic lights. We’re optimising traffic signals, and this will create ‘green waves’, meaning you’re more likely to hit a series of green lights, reducing the need to stop and start. This will result in more reliable journey times, lower fuel use, and fewer emissions from idling vehicles. making it easier to get to and from key destinations.

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Brougham cycling and walking bridge between Collins Street and Simeon Street

• Overbridge artwork and design concept

  View the gallery page for the overbridge artwork and design concept images

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• About the artwork on the overbridge

  The aim of the bridge artwork is to integrate artistic and cultural elements into the build of the Collins/Simeon pedestrian/cycle bridge to provide visual enrichment to the space and area.

  The concept of the artwork was inspired by the flora and fauna of the environment and influenced by the physical and emotional experience involved in walking or cycling across a suspended space, and strongly represents connections, including physical, social and environmental. The design includes translations of Māori Taniko designs, Māori architecture and plant motifs.

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• About the artist

  Lonnie Hutchison (Ngāti kuri ki Ngāi Tahu, Samoan, Celtic) is a leading multi-disciplinary artist whose work is held in both private and public collections around Aotearoa New Zealand and internationally.

  Lonnie has created a number of public commissioned artworks around the country. Her work includes the Kakapo cloak (kakahu) design on the Justice and Emergency Services Precinct car park between Tuam and Lichfield Streets, and her most recent, Hana, greets visitors in the foyer of Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre.

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• A breakdown of the bridge elements

  There are several elements that bind the story of the bridge artwork, and the artists aspirations for the bridge.

  • The colour of the truss is a light pearlescent gold. The outward facing triangle truss lines are red. Gold references the golden native grasses that reside along many of our waterways, and creates visual softness against a busy environment. Red is Papatuanuku and the red kokowai stone that is made into a pigment for painting or drawing directly onto a surface. This pigment is used in traditional and contemporary art. Red is not only striking in visually anchoring the bridge to the landscape but it makes a powerful architectural statement that claims its space.
  • The sides of the bridge truss are transparent panels with a printed frit design that references harakeke, native grasses and weaving. The design is a translation of an old weaving pattern, used specifically for outrigger sails.
  • The roof of the bridge are sheets of steel that have a laser cut pattern of kawakawa leaf, a Rongoa native plant that has healing properties. It is found in small, sheltered pockets of Banks Peninsula. As the sun moves shadows will move around the inside of the bridge.

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