In 1955 the growing importance of the port led to statutory authority being granted for the construction of a road tunnel between lyttelton and christchurch the 1951 dispute was cited as emphasising the need for direct road access to lyttelton from 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. Large luggage was shipped to christchurch via the heathcote estuary and up the avon river. The tunnel complemented the long established lyttelton rail tunnel. Recording and preserving our ports history click here for the full port history and archaeological study reports. 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. Blasting to remoce hazards is planned for sat 11 september. The state highway 74 christchurchlyttelton road tunnel is one new. The building was designed by architect peter beaven and is seen as significant in the development of new zealand architecture. Lyttelton to wellington by sea is a distance of 175 miles. The organised settlement of canterbury commenced in 1850 via the shelter of lyttelton by ship harbour, 12km south of where central christchurch had been placed.
A tunnel linking lyttelton to the heart of christchurch city means a trip to this busy seaport and scenic destination is only a 1520 minute drive. 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 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. Driving through lyttelton tunnel,christchurch nz youtube. On 31 august 2014, to celebrate the tunnels 50th anniversay, 25,000 people did it again. Quakehit christchurch road to finally reopen after eight. New zealands first public railway was built to link christchurch and lyttelton, opening from christchurch to ferrymead in 1863 and then to lyttelton once the 2. Heavy goods had to be unloaded at lyttelton and put aboard small craft that were sent across the perilous sumner bar to ferrymead, near the mouth of the heathcote river. The distance between lyttelton to christchurch is 12 km by road. This had an added benefit of allowing this public space to link well with albion square, a short walk up the road that uses the same wharf timbers. For nearly fifty years the lack of it has been a thorn in the side of the. David welch, an historian who has written a book about the tunnel.
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. Project lyttelton is pleased to host an afternoon session on zero waste living as part of the lyttelton summer fest 2018. You can also find the distance from lyttelton to christchurch using other travel options like bus, subway, tram, train and rail. Lyttelton map greater christchurch, new zealand mapcarta. Lyttelton road tunnel the lyttelton road tunnel opened 27 february 1964 creating a vital link between the city of christchurch, new zealand and its port lyttelton. Introduction the christchurchlyttelton road tunnel may well be regarded as one of new zealands most historic projects. At present, the 52yearold tunnel only allows bikes that are attached to the racks of the buses that go through.
New zealands longest road tunnel is designed to handle 2,400 vehicles an hour. The opening of the tunnel reduced the travel distance between christchurch and lyttelton. The construction of the christchurch lyttelton 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 lyttelton road tunnel was commissioned with the purpose of providing a direct road link between the developing canterbury region and the port. At the opening of lyttelton road tunnel nzhistory, new. Plea to clean up squalid lyttelton tunnel rnz news. It was recognised as far back as 1851, a year after christchurch and lyttelton were settled that road access between the twowas required. Any day of the week in lyttelton offers up a slightly offbeat harbourside character. Before then, all road traffic went over evans pass on the port hills. Lyttelton rail tunnel, seen here in the old illustrated press, opened in 1867 to. Library resources christchurch, lyttelton, banks pensisula. More about the history of the tunnel can be found in the two booklets below.
Opened on 27 february 1964, the tunnel through the port hills was an. The tunnel opened in 1964, 110 years after it was first mooted and was hailed by the. Lyttelton fire station christchurch goom landscaping. Lyttelton harbour 2020 all you need to know before you. Lyttelton provides a safe, sheltered deepwater harbour, as it lies in the caldera of an extinct volcano. In 2011 this figure is just over 11,000 vehicles a day including around 1,260 heavy commercial.
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. Lyttelton harbour, a drowned volcanic cone on the east coast, is the port to the largest south island city, christchurch, which is minutes away by road or rail. 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 zealands south island. Lyttelton, sumner road, was badly damaged and has been closed. Christchurchlyttelton road tunnel booklets more about the history of the tunnel can be found in the two booklets below.
The lyttelton road tunnel that created a direct road link between christchurhc and the port of lyttelton, was opened on 27 february 1964. Christchurch lyttelton tunnel reopens the lyttelton tunnel re opened after a safety inspection late weds 8th spetember. Tunnel history and facts waka kotahi nz transport agency. While the tunnel itself was not damaged due to the february 2011 christchurch earthquake, the heathcote tunnel canopy was destroy. 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. Jul 02, 2012 introduction the christchurchlyttelton road tunnel may well be regarded as one of new zealands most historic projects. Nov 22, 2018 autodependent suburbs were being built miles away from the railway lines, the christchurch master transportation plan proposed a network of motorways, expressways and arterial roads crisscrossing the city, and the lyttelton road tunnel had just opened, ending the railways monopoly on passenger transport on that route. On completion in 1867 it became the first tunnel in the world to be taken through the side of an extinct volcano, and at 2. In 1965, an average of 2,805 vehicles a day used the tunnel. At 1,970 metres, it was the longest road tunnel in new zealand from its opening until 2 july 2017, when it was superseded by the waterview tunnels. The port of lyttelton generously opened the gates to their stock of timber piles and various material to our landscape architect to pick through for repurposing into the station design.
Christchurch lyttelton road tunnel official opening booklet. When the tunnel road was opened, there was no longer a need for an intensive rail passenger service and much of the port freight also went by road. In 1850 settlers sweated over the steep, narrow bridle path from lyttelton to the swampy site of christchurch. The rail tunnel was opened in 1867 and is 10 chains more than a mile and ahalf long and this was the first railway line opened in new zealand. Scotter, a history of port lyttelton, lyttelton harbour board, christchurch, 1968.
A road tunnel connecting christchurch with the port of lyttelton was completed in 1964. Christchurch closure of evans passsumner road the christchurch city council have had to close sumner rd due to rock falls. This view is of the entrance at heathcote, soon after the tunnel was opened. The tunnel complemented the long establishedlyttelton rail tunnel.
The lyttelton road tunnel connects christchurch with the south islands largest. A post currently doing the rounds on facebook is once again raising the possibility of getting bikes through the lyttelton road tunnel under their own steam. Feb 11, 2014 lyttelton folk wonder why their tunnel tiles look so shabby. The lyttelton road tunnel linking canterbury to the world for 50 years. Its a popular spot for cruise ships and cargo vessels, but its also the starting point for many smaller cruising tours such as the black cat cruises day trip to quail island. Map of lyttelton, christchurch, new zealand with street names and local businesses. It is the countrys oldest operational rail tunnel, and is on the lyttelton line, one of the first in the province. Alternate access to lyttelton was available for private vehicles via the dyers rd pass. People were invited to walk through the tunnel on opening day. It was a significant development in the history of the region. Lyttelton rail tunnel nzhistory, new zealand history online.
Published by the christchurch lyttelton road tunnel committee 1956 about 60,000 bales of wool are transported over the steep evans pass grade every year. Book your tickets online for lyttelton, christchurch. Drive through the lyttelton road tunnel and you may notice. The christchurch lyttelton road tunnel booklet published on jul 2, 2012 this booklets was produced in 1956 and outline the benefits of the proposed lyttelton tunnel. Aug, 2014 the length of the lyttelton tunnel is 1,970metres6,460ft long and was opened on 27 february 1964. Today lyttelton is accessed by an impressive road tunnel. They drew even larger crowds after the lyttelton rail tunnel was opened in 1867. 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. The port and town of lyttelton are on the north shore of lyttelton harbour, a sea inlet in the northwest of banks peninsula on the coast of canterbury in the south island of new zealand. The christchurch lyttelton road tunnel booklet by nz. Lyttelton folk wonder why their tunnel tiles look so shabby. The critical road link between sumner and lyttelton over the port hills has been closed since the. Lyttelton road oxford street p pages road park terrace r randolph terrace reserve terrace ripon street ross parade ross terrace s seaview terrace selwyn lane selwyn parade selwyn road shackleton terrace simeon quay somes road st davids street stevensons.
Janise dickson, carmel doherty, mary mclorinan, catherine kennedy, christine smith. Flashback when christchurch had commuter trains talking. Christchurchs first european settlers landed here in 1850 before trekking over the port hills to establish their new home. It was designed as a toll tunnel but became tollfree in. Aug 14, 2016 a post currently doing the rounds on facebook is once again raising the possibility of getting bikes through the lyttelton road tunnel under their own steam. Lyttelton regattas were important as spectator events for christchurch residents from 1862. Do you need to book in advance to visit lyttelton harbour. Jul 02, 2012 the christchurch lyttelton road tunnel booklet published on jul 2, 2012 this booklets was produced in 1956 and outline the benefits of the proposed lyttelton tunnel. Prior to opening the public were invited to walk through the tunnel and thousands did so. The lyttelton road tunnel administration building was built in the mid1960s as an operational building for the lyttelton road tunnel in christchurch, new zealand.
The lyttelton road tunnel opened 27 february 1964 creating a vital link between the city of christchurch, new zealand and its port lyttelton. The lyttelton road tunnel runs through the port hills to connect the new zealand city of christchurch and its seaport, lyttelton. The port of lyttelton is situated on the north shore of lyttelton harbour and close to the banks peninsula. Bridle path of the port hills or a perilous journey by small boat across the. The lyttelton rail tunnel christchurch city libraries. System maintenance of our online services is currently scheduled for thursday 23 april from 2100 hours to friday 24 april 0100 hours. It opened in 1964 and carries just over 10,000 vehicles per day as part of state highway 74. Christchurchlyttelton road tunnel canterbury places. A group of women at the opening of the lyttelton road tunnel on 27 february 1964. It is designated a motorway, with pedestrians and cyclists excluded, although for the most part the road is 23 lane undivided carriageway. It was the first tunnel in the world to be driven through the side of an extinct volcano. The length of the lyttelton tunnel is 1,970metres6,460ft long and was opened on 27 february 1964. Christchurch is regarded as the gateway to the south island of new zealand opening up to places like queenstown, lake tekapo, hamner springs, kaikoura, lake wanaka, little river, akaroa, lyttelton, arrowtown and many more places.
Autodependent suburbs were being built miles away from the railway lines, the christchurch master transportation plan proposed a network of motorways, expressways and arterial roads crisscrossing the city, and the lyttelton road tunnel had just opened, ending the railways monopoly on passenger transport on that route. It was designed as a toll tunnel but became tollfree in 1979. Around 150,000 cubic metres of rock was removed to create the tunnel. Lyttelton road tunnel lyttelton, new zealand landmark. In 1964, the rail tunnel was supplemented by the 2. The surrounding regions of christchurch and the south island are worth visiting and offer something special in their own unique way. The lyttelton tunnel provides a critical road link between the port of lyttelton and christchurch. Apart from the trip distance, refer directions from lyttelton to christchurch for road driving directions. A 20 cent toll levied to use the tunnel was abolished by the christchurch. Lyttelton lyttelton is the seaport satellite town of christchurch in new zealand, lying just over the port hills from christchurch. A quakehit christchurch road that has been closed for eight years is set to reopen next month. Aug 31, 2014 around 150,000 cubic metres of rock was removed to create the tunnel. Opened on 27 february 1964, the tunnel through the port hills was an engineering challenge. Between 1895 and 1976, steam ferries operated an overnight.
Construction began in 1962 and the tunnel opened in 1964. This had an added benefit of allowing this public space to link well with albion square, a short walk up. The lyttelton road tunnel connects christchurch with the south islands largest deepwater port at lyttelton and, at a length of 1. Print subscription nz herald eedition advertise with nzme book. Lyttelton road tunnel administration building wikipedia. Christchurchlyttelton road tunnel canterbury places te. The town is linked to christchurch by railway and road tunnels through the port hills. Christchurch has been an important trade centre on. This tunnel is a vital transport artery for delivering the goods and services needed to rebuild christchurch. Opened on 27 feb it was designed as a toll tunnel but became tollfree in christchurch, new zealand road tunnel to lyttelton nearing completiton. It was new zealands first rail tunnel, and for many years the longest. Join hannah blumhardt and liam prince, the nowaste nomads behind the rubbish trip for an introduction to the practicalities and philosophy of waste reduction.