Lyttelton Road Tunnel
Encyclopedia
The Lyttelton road tunnel links the New Zealand
city of Christchurch
and its seaport, Lyttelton
. It opened in 1964 and carries just over 10,000 vehicles/day. While the tunnel itself was not closed for long after the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake, the Heathcote tunnel canopy has been demolished, and the Tunnel Control Building that has a Category I heritage classification by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust has suffered significant damage.
since 1867. Road transport had to rely on the route over Evans Pass, or go via the Sign of the Kiwi
.
Construction started in 1962 and the road tunnel was opened on 27 February 1964. It is currently the longest road tunnel 1970 metres (6,463.3 ft) in New Zealand. The tunnel is part of State Highway 74
. The Tunnel Control Building, designed by Christchurch architect Peter Beaven, is a Category I listed heritage building registered by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust
with registration number 7746. It was registered on 14 May 2008and is one of the youngest buildings recognised by the trust. The building was commissioned by the Christchurch Lyttelton Road Tunnel Authority as a "prime point of entry to Canterbury". It is sited at the Heathcote
end of the tunnel.
, the tunnel has an AADT (average daily traffic volume) of 10,755 vehicles/day, of which 12.3% are heavy goods vehicle
s. A 20 cent toll levied to use the tunnel was abolished by the Christchurch-Lyttelton Road Tunnel Authority Dissolution Act 1978, which became effective on 1 April 1979.
Cyclists are not allowed to use the tunnel, although for many years they were allowed to pass through on one day a year. For example, the 2001 tunnel ride was held in conjunction with the 3rd NZ Cycling Conference
.
Since 2007 Christchurch buses have been equipped with bicycle carriers to allow cyclists' access between Heathcote and Lyttelton.
in bad weather conditions.
The tunnel was also closed temporarily following the 2010 Canterbury earthquake
and subsequent aftershocks to allow for structural integrity inspections to take place. Service generally resumed within 20 minutes of each aftershock.
The tunnel was again closed following the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake. The tunnel canopy was damaged by rockfalls and was demolished within days. Following initial engineers' inspection the tunnel reopened to emergency vehicles later the same day. Access was limited to Lyttelton residents only from February 26 before fully reopening. The Tunnel Control Building was also badly damaged and has since been deemed unfit for occupation.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
city of Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
and its seaport, Lyttelton
Lyttelton, New Zealand
Lyttelton is a port town on the north shore of Lyttelton Harbour close to Banks Peninsula, a suburb of Christchurch on the eastern coast of the South Island of New Zealand....
. It opened in 1964 and carries just over 10,000 vehicles/day. While the tunnel itself was not closed for long after the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake, the Heathcote tunnel canopy has been demolished, and the Tunnel Control Building that has a Category I heritage classification by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust has suffered significant damage.
History
Lyttelton and Christchurch have been linked by a rail tunnelLyttelton rail tunnel
The Lyttelton Rail Tunnel, initially called the Moorhouse Tunnel, links the city of Christchurch with the port of Lyttelton in the Canterbury region of New Zealand’s South Island. It is the country’s oldest operational rail tunnel, and is on one of the first railway lines in the district...
since 1867. Road transport had to rely on the route over Evans Pass, or go via the Sign of the Kiwi
Sign of the Kiwi
The Sign of the Kiwi, originally called Toll House, is a small café and shop at Dyers Pass on the road between Christchurch and Governors Bay. It was built in 1916/1917 by Harry Ell as a staging post and opened as a tearoom and rest house...
.
Construction started in 1962 and the road tunnel was opened on 27 February 1964. It is currently the longest road tunnel 1970 metres (6,463.3 ft) in New Zealand. The tunnel is part of State Highway 74
New Zealand State Highway 74
State Highway 74 is a State Highway in New Zealand servicing the eastern suburbs of Christchurch, in addition to connecting the city to its port town of Lyttelton...
. The Tunnel Control Building, designed by Christchurch architect Peter Beaven, is a Category I listed heritage building registered by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust
New Zealand Historic Places Trust
The New Zealand Historic Places Trust is a non-profit trust that advocates for the protection of ancestral sites and heritage buildings in New Zealand...
with registration number 7746. It was registered on 14 May 2008and is one of the youngest buildings recognised by the trust. The building was commissioned by the Christchurch Lyttelton Road Tunnel Authority as a "prime point of entry to Canterbury". It is sited at the Heathcote
Heathcote Valley
-Location:The suburb is dominated by the approaches to the Lyttelton road tunnel, a major arterial that passes through the Port Hills. The road is part of the State Highway 74 network...
end of the tunnel.
, the tunnel has an AADT (average daily traffic volume) of 10,755 vehicles/day, of which 12.3% are heavy goods vehicle
Large Goods Vehicle
A large goods vehicle , is the European Union term for any truck with a gross combination mass of over...
s. A 20 cent toll levied to use the tunnel was abolished by the Christchurch-Lyttelton Road Tunnel Authority Dissolution Act 1978, which became effective on 1 April 1979.
Cyclists are not allowed to use the tunnel, although for many years they were allowed to pass through on one day a year. For example, the 2001 tunnel ride was held in conjunction with the 3rd NZ Cycling Conference
NZ Cycling Conference
The NZ Cycling Conference is a series of cycle planning conferences started in 1997 in Hamilton. Since 2001, the conference series has a biennial schedule...
.
Since 2007 Christchurch buses have been equipped with bicycle carriers to allow cyclists' access between Heathcote and Lyttelton.
Incidents
In August 2008, the tunnel was closed to northbound traffic due a landslideLandslide
A landslide or landslip is a geological phenomenon which includes a wide range of ground movement, such as rockfalls, deep failure of slopes and shallow debris flows, which can occur in offshore, coastal and onshore environments...
in bad weather conditions.
The tunnel was also closed temporarily following the 2010 Canterbury earthquake
2010 Canterbury earthquake
The 2010 Canterbury earthquake was a 7.1 magnitude earthquake, which struck the South Island of New Zealand at 4:35 am on local time ....
and subsequent aftershocks to allow for structural integrity inspections to take place. Service generally resumed within 20 minutes of each aftershock.
The tunnel was again closed following the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake. The tunnel canopy was damaged by rockfalls and was demolished within days. Following initial engineers' inspection the tunnel reopened to emergency vehicles later the same day. Access was limited to Lyttelton residents only from February 26 before fully reopening. The Tunnel Control Building was also badly damaged and has since been deemed unfit for occupation.