Lyttelton road tunnel
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The Lyttelton tunnel portal at the southern end
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| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Location | Christchurch |
| Coordinates | 43°35′39″S 172°42′42″E / 43.5942°S 172.7116°E |
| Status | Open |
| Route |
 Christchurch–Lyttelton Motorway
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| Operation | |
| Opened | 27 February 1964 |
| Owner | NZ Transport Agency |
| Traffic | 10,755 (2010) |
| Toll | nil |
| Technical | |
| Length | 1,970 metres (6,460 ft) |
| No. of lanes | two |
| Operating speed | 50 km/h |
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. It opened in 1964 and carries just over 10,000 vehicles per day as part of State Highway 74. At 1,970 metres (6,460 ft), it is the longest road tunnel in New Zealand, but will be superseded in 2017 by the Waterview Tunnels.
While the tunnel itself was not damaged due to the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake, the Heathcote tunnel canopy was destroyed. The nearby Tunnel Control Building — a Category I heritage building — suffered significant damage and was closed, before finally being demolished in 2013. Construction of a new control building was completed in 2014.
Lyttelton and Christchurch have been linked by a rail tunnel since 1867. However road transport was restricted to routes over the Port Hills, either via Evans Pass or the Sign of the Kiwi.
Construction of the road tunnel started in 1962 and was completed in 1964 at a cost of £2.7 million. 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. 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.
The original Lyttelton Road Tunnel Administration Building, designed by Christchurch architect Peter Beaven, was a Category I listed heritage building and one of the youngest buildings recognised by the trust. Following its demolition as a result of damage sustained in the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake, a new control building, constructed to 180% of the Building Code to withstand future earthquakes, was completed in 2014 at a cost of $1.5 million.
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