Drone photo of Levi Road works completed

The “Super Weekend” of road works to install new traffic lights on the intersection of Levi Road and Masefield Drive in Rolleston has catapulted the project forward by nearly a month and close to completion.

Contractors from Isaac Construction over the weekend of April 4-6 worked a straight 84 hours to complete roading, piping and electrical works as well as the installation of the new traffic lights which enabled all four entry points to reopen up for the first time since January.

“We appreciate the inconvenience this work has caused for residents and commuters and really want to thank our residents for their patience and understanding,” says Steve Gibling, Acting Chief Executive for the Selwyn District Council.

By closing off all four entry points over the Super Weekend, contractors were able to accelerate a significant amount of work that would have taken three to four weeks to complete under a normal traffic management scenario.

“Our staff and contractors worked really hard to prepare residents for the work ahead and also adjusted their work programme over the weekend to accommodate some residents who were particularly affected,” says Gibling.

During the weekend, the contractors remained in regular contact with residents through text messages and house calls, provided a coffee cart for residents to talk about the previous night’s work and even assisted some residents who struggled to access their driveway by carrying their groceries.

“That work did not always remove all the inconvenience, but the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive as residents understood how important this temporary hassle would be to get the job done as soon as possible,” says Gibling, who adds that several locals showed their gratitude with muffins, slices, drinks and even a barbeque for the contractors.

Isaac Construction Project Manager Dan Elliott said that from Thursday night to Monday morning over 200 truckloads of asphalt was laid and 2500 staff hours were worked on the site during this period.

“The project team wishes to thank the residents for their support over the project, they were a huge part in allowing our teams to work effectively and safely during the super weekend,” said Elliott.

The Council last year decided to combine three different projects, including the widening of Levi Road, the new traffic lights and the entry points for the new supermarket to minimise the overall timeframes of these projects.

“We understand the traffic delays and inconvenience for residents this has created, so we are excited to see the end of the tunnel,” says Gibling, who points out that the new traffic lights and wider roading will create safety and traffic benefits for many years to come.

Contractors hope to put the finishing touches on the project and activate the new traffic lights in the coming weeks.

Last modified: 11 Apr 2025 9:00am