November lpc hands over to ecan the information package from its extensive public consultation on the port lyttelton plan, the companys 30year vision for. Christchurch lyttelton road tunnel official opening booklet. Christchurchlyttelton road tunnel 1964 lost christchurch. The lyttelton rail tunnel was officially opened for passenger traffic on 9 december 1867, taking less than seven minutes to make the trip through the hill section of the track. The tunnel was closed due to the annual spring cycle allowed cyclists through instead of vehicles. On a fine day the views from the top of the bridle path are amazing. When it officially opened on 27 february 1964 it was hailed by the local community as the new gateway for the port to the plains and a significant development in the history of the region. Christchurch closure of evans passsumner road the christchurch city council have had to close sumner rd due to rock falls. For further information or to register your interest, contact. A queue of vehicles by the entrance to the lyttelton tunnel. Blasting to remoce hazards is planned for sat 11 september. The christchurch lyttelton road tunnel booklet by nz. The lyttelton road tunnel would soon become a reality, providing a much more convenient road link between lyttelton harbour and the canterbury plains.
Before then, all road traffic went over evans pass on the port hills. Id first heard the rumour of a tunnel ride earlier in the year when the tunnel officially turned 50, but the. Lyttelton regattas were important as spectator events for christchurch residents from 1862. Even before the third station opened, there were doubts about the long term viability of passenger rail services between lyttelton and christchurch.
Lyttelton road tunnel administration building, christchurch, new zealand. It was closed until its safety could be guaranteed. Christchurch lyttelton road tunnel booklets more about the history of the tunnel can be found in the two booklets below. The construction of the christchurchlyttelton road tunnel was one of the largest and most significant engineering projects to be carried out in new zealand during the postwar period and the tunnel authority administration building is an essential, and the most visible, part of this project. The tunnel will halve the present, roundabout, dangerous, steep grade road journeys over the port hills, now the only road links between christchurch and lyttelton. Since 1964 the lyttelton tunnel has been a critical road link between the port of lyttelton and christchurch, reducing the travel distance between the two by around 8km.
Search the list moorhouse railway tunnel heritage new. Bike the lyttelton tunnel sun 31st august cycling in. One person died and three others were injured in a twovehicle crash on the road to the lyttelton tunnel in christchurch this evening. On the very odd occasion, people walking and cycling have been allowed through, most recently to celebrate the 50th. The lyttelton road tunnel connects christchurch with the south islands largest deepwater port at lyttelton and, at a length of 1. He was a member of the canterbury provincial council for lyttelton from 187076, a member of the house of representatives for christchurch west from 1871 and for the city of christchurch from 1875. When the early settlers arrived in lyttelton harbour in 1850, they used horse and donkey to climb over the 386m port hill, bridle path to christchurch to start a new life, or take a k boat ride around the coast. Tracks were laid by november, the first train travelling through on the 18th november 1867. Christchurch city libraries 941 7923 lyttelton by rail. In celebration of the opening of the lyttelton rail tunnel 150 years ago, members of the public are invited to share their stories, memories and images of travelling on the lyttelton to christchurch passenger train. Around 150,000 cubic metres of rock was removed to create the tunnel.
At that time motorists had to pay tolls to help cover the cost of the tunnel. Lyttelton portal to the road tunnel to christchurch. Lyttelton road tunnel lyttelton, new zealand landmark. Christchurch lyttelton tunnel reopens mondiale news. Christchurch to lyttelton road tunnel this location once had toll booths with barrier arms, as users of the tunnel had to pay a 20 cent toll to travel through the tunnel. The site of the building was additionally significant in being at the christchurch end of. This tunnel is a vital transport artery for delivering the goods and services needed to rebuild christchurch.
The surrounding regions of christchurch and the south island are worth visiting and offer something special in their own unique way. Project lyttelton is pleased to host an afternoon session on zero waste living as part of the lyttelton summer fest 2018. It is the first tunnel in the world to be taken through volcanic rock. It opened in 1964 and carries just over 10,000 vehicles per day as part of state highway 74. In 1850 lyttelton was a town of about 300 when the site of christchurch was still bare plain, but christchurch overtook it during the 1850s. At present, the 52yearold tunnel only allows bikes that are attached to the racks of the buses that go through. Opened on 27 feb it was designed as a toll tunnel but became tollfree in christchurch, new zealand nz south island christchurch new zealand free in under construction homeland restoration nature image boards. Join hannah blumhardt and liam prince, the nowaste nomads behind the rubbish trip for an introduction to the practicalities and philosophy of waste reduction. Christchurch to lyttelton road tunnel christchurch.
He was minister of public works from 187277 in the waterhouse, fox, vogel, pollen and atkinson governments, and again from 188487 when he was. Lyttelton harbour is one of two major inlets in banks peninsula, on the coast of canterbury, new zealand. Christchurchlyttelton road tunnel canterbury places. This 1964 view of the building and the portal on the heathcote side of the christchurchlyttelton road tunnel shows the toll booths where motorists used to stop and pay the toll. A road tunnel connecting christchurch with the port of lyttelton was completed in 1964.
People were invited to walk through the tunnel on opening day. It is the main port for the city of christchurch which is about 20 minutes drive on the other side of the port hills. There is a tunnel that goes through the hill and a regular bus service to the central city. This view is of the entrance at heathcote, soon after the tunnel was opened. Christchurch and lyttelton had been linked by a rail tunnel since 1867. In 1850 settlers sweated over the steep, narrow bridle path from lyttelton to the swampy site of christchurch. Opened on 27 february 1964, the tunnel through the port hills was an engineering challenge.
Lyttelton tunnel to celebrate 50th anniversary scoop news. Drive through the lyttelton road tunnel and you may notice. The lyttelton road tunnel runs beneath the port hills to the south of the new zealand city of christchurch and links the city with its seaport, lyttelton. Tunnel history and facts waka kotahi nz transport agency. A 20 cent toll levied to use the tunnel was abolished by the christchurch. They drew even larger crowds after the lyttelton rail tunnel was opened in 1867.
Lyttelton rail tunnel 1867 extraordinary engineering. Lyttelton railway tunnel in 1850, when the first four ships arrived at lyttelton, there were only two ways of reaching the township of christchurch. The lyttelton road tunnel opened 27 february 1964 creating a vital link between the city of christchurch, new zealand and its port lyttelton. The christchurch urban area lies on the south islands east coast, just north of banks peninsula. Governor general sir bernard fergusson opening the lyttelton road tunnel, 1964, image courtesy of fletcher challenge archive. The opening of the christchurchlyttelton road tunnel by his excellency brigadier sir bernard fergusson, represents the completion of a project which for man years has been the objective of a group of enthusiasts and the desire of thousands of christchurch, lyttelton and canterbury people. Construction began in 1962 and the tunnel opened in 1964. It is 12 km southeast of cathedral square in central christchurch, via the road tunnel through the port hills, opened in 1964.
It is approximately 15 km in length, from its mouth to teddington. A second road tunnel between christchurch and lyttelton will be needed in about 20 years due to growth in freight transport, the port boss says. Lyttelton folk wonder why their tunnel tiles look so shabby. Planning is underway to celebrate next years 50th anniversary of the opening of the christchurchlyttelton road tunnel.
The lyttelton road tunnel administration building was built in the mid1960s as an operational building for the lyttelton road tunnel in christchurch, new zealand. Lyttelton road tunnel under construction christchurch. Lyttelton portal to the road tunnel to christchurch march 1964. The shock was extremely shallow, at a depth of 5km, and was centred close to lyttelton. The lyttelton rail tunnel christchurch city libraries. Detectives investigating twovehicle crash on lyttelton. It was a significant development in the history of the region. The lyttelton road tunnel between lyttelton and christchurch was opened in 1964. Lyttelton rail tunnel, seen here in the old illustrated press, opened in 1867 to join christchurch and the port. On 22 february 2011, lyttelton, christchurch city and the surrounding suburbs were devastated by. The lyttelton road tunnel reopened on wednesday after checks of cracks in the wake of another aftershock. It was new zealands first rail tunnel, and for many years the longest. Its main centre is the port of lyttelton, which serves the city of christchurch.
Christchurch academic dictionaries and encyclopedias. As it has always been part of the main south line originally the canterbury great southern railway, this name has never been officially used to refer to the track itself. The route of sh 74 has been rearranged quite frequently for a state highway, initially gazetted in 1964 upon the opening of the lyttelton road tunnel, it only consisted of the motorway and the short section through lyttelton when state highway 1 through christchurch was rerouted to bypass the city in the early 1990s, state highways 73 and 74 were extended to cover much of the. Rice, geoffrey with assistance from jean sharfe1999. The bridle path is a medium 5k walk that will take you around 6 hours. Lyttelton road tunnel on sh 74 under the port hills between lyttelton and the heathcote valley in christchurch, 1900 m long.
Christchurch city holdings limited the commercial arm of the christchurch city council acquires 100% of the shares and delists lyttelton port company from the new zealand stock exchange. More about the history of the tunnel can be found in the two booklets below. The tunnel complemented the long established lyttelton rail tunnel. Christchurch lyttelton tunnel reopens the lyttelton tunnel reopened after a safety inspection late weds 8th spetember. The neat and orderly appearance of the road tunnel to christchurch, which was officially opened by the governorgeneral, 27 february 1964. Lyttelton line is a name sometimes used to refer to the section of the main south line in new zealands south island between lyttelton and christchurch, and can also be used to refer to the operations on this section. Sumner rd closure dg updates the lyttelton tunnel authority have advised that the tunnel may be closed to normal traffic at night to allow dg containers to travel the tu posted. The urban area is home to 377,200 residents, and the territorial authority has 385,500 people, which makes it the secondmost populous city. The new road tunnel will, in fact, place the wellington railway station within six and a half miles driving distance of christchurch s cathedral square. One man waves a fist in frustration of the closure. Lyttelton rail tunnel nzhistory, new zealand history online. It was recognised as far back as 1851, a year after christchurch and lyttelton were settled that road access between the twowas required. One was produced in 1964 to mark the official tunnel opening and the other was produced in 1956 and outlines the benefits of the proposed lyttelton tunnel. The sumner bar was shallow and treacherous with many a ship wrecked on it as a result.
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