Walnut Avenue intersection improvements

• Reduced delays and queues during peak time
• Safer crossing for cyclists and pedestrians, including school children
• Larger vehicles will be able to cross the intersections with greater ease.

About the project

Waka Kotahi is working with Ashburton District Council and KiwiRail on improvements to the intersections of West Street (SH1) and East Street with Walnut Avenue, to improve safety and access for local residents.

Replacing roundabouts with traffic signals will help reduce delays, provide safer crossing for cyclists and pedestrians and larger vehicles will be able to negotiate these intersections with greater ease.

Coordinating traffic signals with railway barriers will make Walnut Ave intersections safer for all road and rail users.

Key features of the project are:

• New signals at the SH1 and Walnut Avenue intersection
• New signals at the East Street and Walnut Avenue intersection
• New rail level crossing
• Improved pedestrian and cycling facilities.

Construction began in August 2021 and is expected to take 18 months and be complete in late 2022/early 2023.

Ashburton is one of three growing rural town centres in Canterbury – as well as West Melton and Tinwald – to benefit from a $45 million investment in rural intersection safety improvements included in the NZ Upgrade Programme (NZUP), a range of transport projects to get our cities and regions moving, save lives and boost productivity.

NZ Upgrade Programme – Canterbury package

Project map

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