Christchurch City Council has unveiled plans for a series of bridge renewals and the construction of new retaining walls across Banks Peninsula this year.
Some of the work is part of the Council’s annual programme of renewals, while other projects are in response to significant weather events that have damaged existing bridges and retaining walls or highlighted the need for new ones to be built.
The Council has begun remediation work to repair damage to Akaroa’s Lighthouse Road. The work, which includes reconstruction of the road, construction of a new retaining wall and installation of drains to help stabilise the land, started at the end of March.
Remediation is needed due to land movement that occurred following a significant weather event in May last year. Repairs were carried out in March on a new slip site further down the road, which happened after the February rain event.
“There are bridges planned for Bossu, French Farm, Little Akaloa, Wharf and Robinsons Bay Valley roads in the next few months, while new retaining walls will be constructed on Onawe Flat Road and Holmes Bay Road to help protect the roads from slips,” said Council Head of Transport, Stephen Wright.
“We understand that this work can cause disruption for residents who live on the peninsula and want to thank them for their patience and understanding – especially as maintenance work is also ongoing following the February 2026 weather event.”
The new Holmes Bay Road retaining wall is being built to help stabilise the road, where some slips have occurred below it. Construction is hoped to start in May. Other retaining walls are also planned for Onawe Flat Road, with work planned for this month.
The retaining walls are part of a Crown-funded programme to build new retaining walls where landslips have occurred or are at risk of occurring due to erosion and potential damaging property or infrastructure.
The reconstruction of Bossu Road bridge is planned for July. The work is required as the bridge was washed out in a weather event in May last year.
“Culverts that were installed to allow road access immediately following the weather event were a temporary solution, while the upcoming reconstruction is a permanent solution,” Mr Wright says.
“Work on the Bossu Road bridge was delayed due to the Jubilee Road bridge being washed out during the recent February 2026 weather event. The Jubilee Road bridge will be repaired and operational before work on the Bossu bridge starts as it will help provide a detour while the reconstruction happens.”
New bridges are also being constructed on French Farm and Little Akaloa roads, as the bridges have reached the end of their useful life and need replacement. Work is planned to start on the two French Farm Road bridges first in August, with construction expected to take around eight weeks for each bridge.
Meanwhile, work on the Little Akaloa Road bridge is expected to start in September.
Bridge renewal work at Port Levy’s Wharf Road and Robinsons Bay Valley Road is planned to start this month, with construction expected to take around seven to 10 days for each bridge.
