The Christchurch–Lyttelton Motorway, also known as Tunnel Road, is part of the road network connecting Christchurch, New Zealand with its port at Lyttelton. It is part of State Highway 74.
Route
The northern terminus is a roundabout on Ferry Road, a few hundred metres southeast of an intersection with the Christchurch ring route. The motorway immediately crosses the Ōpāwaho / Heathcote River and is carried on an embankment south across its swampy floodplain. The northern section is two lane, unlit and is relatively lightly trafficked, with the majority of traffic entering at a grade-separated parclo interchange with Port Hills Road which connects via the Opawa Expressway in Opawa to the north and west. South of the interchange the motorway climbs the western side of the Heathcote Valley, with a crawler lane and passing through some cuttings. The access road to Horotane valley, a side valley of the Heathcote, passes beneath the motorway, connecting to Port Hills Road which continues in parallel to the motorway.
At the head of the Heathcote Valley is the north entrance to the Lyttelton road tunnel, with a southbound on-ramp and northbound off-ramp to Bridle Path road. The tunnel's toll plaza was located here prior to the abolition of tolls in 1979.Christchurch-Lyttelton Road Tunnel Authority Dissolution Act 1978 The speed limit is restricted to 50 km/h in the Lyttelton Road Tunnel. The motorway terminates at a roundabout immediately at the Lyttelton end of the tunnel.
History The 6.1 km road was completed in 1964 with the opening of the Lyttelton road tunnel, the country's second-longest road tunnel. It is designated a motorway, with pedestrians and cyclists excluded, although for the most part the road is 2-3 lane undivided carriageway.
Interchanges
Territorial authority Location km Destinations Notes Christchurch City Woolston 22.0 (Ferry Road) – Woolston, City Centre(Ferry Road) – Sumner Christchurch-Lyttelton Motorway (Tunnel Road) begins 22.1 Ōpāwaho / Heathcote River Bridge Heathcote 24.3 – Heathcote, Opawa, City Centre Southbound entrance and exit using Scruttons Road 26.0 (Bridle Path Road) – Heathcote Northbound exit and southbound entrance only 26.1 Lyttelton Road Tunnel () Lyttelton 28.1 28.1 (Simeon Quay) – Naval Point, Governors Bay – Port Christchurch–Lyttelton Motorway (Tunnel Road) ends
References