State Highway 73 | ||||
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Route information | ||||
Maintained by New Zealand Transport Agency | ||||
Length: | 231 km (144 mi) | |||
Tourist routes: |
Great Alpine Highway Christchurch Ring Road Inland Scenic Route between Sheffield and Waddington. |
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Major junctions | ||||
Northwest end: | State Highway 6 at Kumara Junction, New Zealand| | |||
Southeast end: | Tunnel Road at Heathcote, New Zealand | |||
Location | ||||
Primary destinations: |
Kumara, Dillmanstown, Jacksons, Otira, Arthur's Pass, Bealey, Cass, Castle Hill Village, Springfield, Sheffield, Waddington, Darfield, Kirwee, Aylesbury, West Melton, Yaldhurst, Christchurch | |||
Highway system | ||||
New Zealand State Highways
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State Highway 73 is a major east-west South Island State Highway in New Zealand connecting Christchurch on the east coast with Greymouth/Hokitika on the west coast via the Southern Alps. It is mostly two lane, with some single-lane bridges north of Springfield but is mostly dual carriageway in Christchurch with some sections of the road currently being upgraded to motorway status.
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The route connecting the West and East coasts of the South Island via the Southern Alps were known for hundreds of years by the Mฤori people, due to a flourishing pounamu trade. The Europeans were informed of the route by a local chief in the mid-19th century but was not used during his lifetime. In 1864, Arthur Dudley Dobson traversed from the east to the west coast from the Waimakariri River, thereby discovering Arthur's Pass. A route connecting Christchurch to Hokitika was fully completed in 1866, with the first Cobb & Co coach began operating that same year due to the burgeoning gold rush.
As the railway was progressively built from both sides, the road was the only route that connected both coastlines of the South Island until 1923, when the Otira Tunnel was open, this signalled the end of the Cobb & Co coach in New Zealand.[1][2]
Due to the geography and topography between Springfield and Kumara, the road has bee subjected to several closures and road realignments, with both Porters and Arthur's Pass subjected to frequent closures during the winter months. The road between Arthur's Pass and Otira in particular was amongst the most dangerous in the country, due to the road located on scree slopes which frequently gave way. As a result, numerous studies were conducted into alternative options for fixing the road around Candy's Bend, Starvation Point and the Zig Zag. Construction of the Otira Viaduct and the protective roofs from slips began in 1997 and opened in 1999.[3]
As of May 2010, this is the current route of the highway.
State Highway 73 begins 11 km south of Greymouth at Kumara Junction. The highway passes through undulating farmland, scrubland and forest as it passes through the settlements of Kumara and Dillmanstown. The road veers sharply to the left as it approaches the mountains to the front of the road. The road then hugs the Taramakau River as it proceeds down the valley. At Jacksons, the Midland Line crosses the river and begins to run parallel to the road. Just before Aickens at the confuence of the Taramakau and Otira Rivers, the road and rail line veers to the right and runs to the south before reaching Otira.
Beyond Otira, the road breaks with the railway line and crosses the river before climbing up towards the Otira Viaduct and Arthur's Pass. At 920 metres, Arthur's Pass is the second highest pass on the road and is one of the three alpine passes connecting the east and west coasts. After peaking, the road descends into Arthur's Pass village with the railway line emerging from the Otira Tunnel nearby.
After the village, the road and rail line runs along the Bealey River valley and crosses the Waimakariri River before veering left and running parallel to both the river and the rail line on the opposite side. Before Cass, the road runs along a bluff and turns right to proceed past some more farmland as well as Lakes Grasmere and Pearson.
The road then climbs up towards Castle Hill Village and runs through a valley before passing beside Lake Lyndon where it curves left before climbing up towards Porters Pass which, at 939 metres, is the highest point on the road. After cresting, the road descends into the Kowai River valley and runs roughly parallel with the river until it reaches Springfield.
After Springfield, the road emerges onto the Canterbury Plains and runs straight through the settlements of Annat, Sheffield and Waddington before arriving at Darfield. The road then passes through the settlements of Kirwee, Aylesbury and West Melton as well as dairy and lifestyle farms characteristic of the plains. The road passes by Paparua Prison and arrives in Christchurch via Yaldhurst.[4]
As Yaldhurst Road, the proceeds in an easterly direction towards Riccarton. The road widens to four lanes at Avonhead, but by Curletts Road/Peer Street, the highway turns right (while Yaldhurst Road becomes Riccarton Road and heads towards the city centre).
As Curletts Road, the road temporarily reverts back to two lanes divided by a flush median. After Blenheim Road, however the road widens again, crosses over the Main South Line and proceeds towards the future Christchurch Southern Motorway.
As the motorway, the speed limit increases to 100 km/h but the road narrows back to two lanes for about 1.5 km. The road then splits up to form Jerrold Street North and Jerrold Street South where both roads intersects with Barrington Street. The roads then merge to form Brougham Street, a major southern arterial road of the city, where it intersects with all the north-south roads of the CBD except for Manchester Street.
After intersecting with Ensors Road, Brougham Street narrows back to two lanes but turns into a small expressway, which it retains as it merges with Opawa Road just before the Garlands Road intersection. At Port Hills Road/Curries Road intersection the road changes name to Port Hills Road which it retains before the highway designation ends at a parclo interchange with Tunnel Road, though Ports Hills Road still continues beyond this point.
Over the past 40 years SH 73 has been subjected to several route changes both in the Christchurch and the Arthur's Pass-Otira areas. In 1999, one of the worst sections of highway in the country (around Candy's Bend) were replaced with the Otira Viaduct. Meanwhile, in Christchurch, since SH 1 was rerouted to bypass the CBD, SH 73 was extended to Brougham Street/Waltham Road intersection, with the rest of the route covered by SH 74. In 2004, with SH 74 being rerouted to run along the Ring Road and the entire length of Tunnel Road instead of through the CBD, SH 73 was extended further to its current terminus.
State Highway 73 | |||
Northbound exits | Distance to Greymouth (km) |
Distance to Lyttelton (km) |
Southbound exits |
End Otira Highway |
16.6 | 240.4 | Start Otira Highway |
Hokitika, Greymouth Kumara Junction Highway Taramakau Highway |
Greymouth, Hokitika Taramakau Highway Kumara Junction Highway |
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Kumara Name change to Seddon Street through Kumara |
23.5 | 233.5 | Kumara Name change to Seddon Street through Kumara |
Dillmanstown | 26.2 | 230.8 | Dillmanstown |
Lake Brunner, Moana Lake Brunner Road () |
61.5 | 195.5 | Lake Brunner, Moana Lake Brunner Road () |
Jacksons | 62.1 | 194.9 | Jacksons |
MIDLAND LINE | 69.4 | 187.6 | MIDLAND LINE |
MIDLAND LINE | 72.2 | 184.8 | MIDLAND LINE |
Otira | 81.5 | 175.5 | Otira |
MIDLAND LINE | 83.2 | 173.8 | MIDLAND LINE |
OTIRA RIVER | 83.3 | 173.7 | OTIRA RIVER |
OTIRA VIADUCT | 87.7 | 169.3 | OTIRA VIADUCT |
ENTER GREY DISTRICT Name change to Otira Highway |
90 | 167 | ARTHUR'S PASS 920 m (3,020 ft) |
ARTHUR'S PASS 920 m (3,020 ft) |
ENTER SELWYN DISTRICT Name change to West Coast Road |
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Arthur's Pass | 95 | 162 | Arthur's Pass |
WAIMAKARIRI RIVER | 104 | 153 | WAIMAKARIRI RIVER |
Bealey | 106 | 151 | Bealey |
Mount White Road | 118 | 139 | Mount White Road |
Cass | 121 | 136 | Cass |
Castle Hill Village | 145 | 112 | Castle Hill Village |
Lake Lyndon, Lake Coleridge Lyndon Road |
156 | 101 | Lake Lyndon, Lake Coleridge Lyndon Road |
PORTERS PASS 939 m (3,081 ft) |
159 | 98 | PORTERS PASS 939 m (3,081 ft) |
KOWAI RIVER | 164.7 | 92.3 | KOWAI RIVER |
KOWAI RIVER | 171.2 | 84.8 | KOWAI RIVER |
Kowai Bush, Waimakariri Gorge Pocock Road |
175.8 | 80.2 | Kowai Bush, Waimakariri Gorge Pocock Road |
Springfield | 177.5 | 79.5 | Springfield |
Russells Flat Keens Road Coxs Road Junction Road |
180.1 | 76.9 | Russells Flat Coxs Road Junction Road Keens Road |
Annat | 184 | 73 | Annat |
Sheffield | 187 | 70 | Sheffield |
Waddington |
189.5 | 68.5 | Oxford, Rangiora Waimakariri Gorge Road Inland Scenic Route |
Oxford, Rangiora Waimakariri Gorge Road Inland Scenic Route |
189.5 | 68.5 | Waddington |
Coalgate, Glentunnel Deans Road Inland Scenic Route |
190.5 | 67.5 | Coalgate, Glentunnel Deans Road Inland Scenic Route |
Coalgate, Glentunnel Bangor Road |
200 | 57 | Coalgate, Glentunnel Bangor Road |
Charing Cross, Dunsandel, Kimberley Ross Street McMillan Street |
200.3 | 56.7 | Kimberley, Charing Cross, Dunsandel McMillan Street Ross Street |
Darfield Name change to South Terrace through Darfield |
200.5 | 56.5 | Darfield Name change to South Terrace through Darfield |
Darfield Horndon Street |
202.3 | 54.7 | Darfield Horndon Street |
Charing Cross Ansons Road |
206.9 | 50.1 | Charing Cross Ansons Road |
MIDLAND LINE | 207 | 50 | MIDLAND LINE |
Courtenay Ansons Road |
207.1 | 49.9 | Courtenay Ansons Road |
Charing Cross, Courtenay Courtenay Road |
209 | 48 | Kirwee |
Kirwee | Courtenay, Charing Cross Courtenay Road |
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Hororata, Burnham, Rolleston Railway Road Aylesbury Road Bealey Road Station Road |
214.5 | 42.5 | Aylesbury |
Aylesbury | Rolleston, Burnham, Hororata Station Road Railway Road Aylesbury Road Bealey Road |
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Rolleston, Kirwee Hoskyns Road |
216.6 | 40.4 | Kirwee, Rolleston Hoskyns Road |
Burnham, Weedons Weedons Ross Road West Melton Road |
222.7 | 34.3 | West Melton |
West Melton | Weedons, Burnham West Melton Road Weedons Ross Road |
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Springston, McLeans Island Dawsons Road Chattertons Road |
227.6 | 29.4 | McLeans Island, Springston Chattertons Road Dawsons Road |
Broomfield, Sockburn Buchanans Road |
231.8 | 25.2 | Broomfield, Sockburn Buchanans Road |
Courtenay, Waddington Old West Coast Road |
232.5 | 24.5 | Courtenay, Waddington Old West Coast Road |
Yaldhurst | 234.2 | 22.8 | Yaldhurst |
Templeton, McLeans Island Pound Road |
McLeans Island, Templeton Pound Road |
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End Yaldhurst Road continues as West Coast Road |
Start Yaldhurst Road from West Coast Road |
State Highway 73 | |||
Northbound exits | Distance to Greymouth (km) |
Distance to Lyttelton (km) |
Southbound exits |
End Yaldhurst Road continues as West Coast Road |
236.4 | 20.6 | Start Yaldhurst Road from West Coast Road |
Timaru, Masham, Russley, Picton Masham Road Russley Road |
Picton, Russley, Masham, Timaru Russley Road Masham Road |
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Sockburn, Avonhead Middlepark Road Avonhead Road |
238.5 | 18.5 | Avonhead, Sockburn Avonhead Road Middlepark Road |
Bishopdale, Riccarton Peer Street Yaldhurst Road |
239.4 | 17.6 | Bishopdale, Riccarton Peer Street Yaldhurst Road |
Name change to Yaldhurst Road End concurrency with Christchurch Ring Road |
Name change to Curletts Road Start concurrency with Christchurch Ring Road |
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Hornby, Riccarton Main South Road |
239.5 | 17.5 | Riccarton, Hornby Main South Road |
Hornby, Christchurch CBD Blenheim Road |
240.3 | 16.7 | Christchurch CBD, Hornby Blenheim Road |
MAIN SOUTH LINE | 240.5 | 16.5 | MAIN SOUTH LINE |
Wigram Parkhouse Road |
240.8 | 16.2 | Wigram Parkhouse Road |
Middleton Lunns Road |
241.1 | 15.9 | Middleton Lunns Road |
Hoon Hay, Halswell, Akaroa Curletts Road |
241.6 | 15.4 | Hoon Hay, Halswell, Akaroa Curletts Road |
Name change to Curletts Road | Name change to Christchurch Southern Motorway | ||
Name change to Christchurch Southern Motorway | 244.2 | 12.8 | Name change to Jerrold Street |
Spreydon, Addington Barrington Street |
Addington, Spreydon Barrington Street |
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Name change to Jerrold Street | 245 | 12 | Name change to Brougham Street |
Barrington, Addington Simeon Street Collins Street |
Addington, Barrington Collins Street Simeon Street |
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Sydenham, Addington Selwyn Street |
245.4 | 11.6 | Addington, Sydenham Selwyn Street |
Sydenham, Addington Strickland Street Antigua Street |
245.9 | 11.1 | Addington, Sydenham Antigua Street Strickland Street |
Christchurch CBD Montreal Street |
246.1 | 10.9 | Christchurch CBD Montreal Street |
Christchurch CBD Durham Street South |
246.3 | 10.7 | Christchurch CBD Durham Street South |
Beckenham, Christchurch CBD Colombo Street |
246.6 | 10.4 | Christchurch CBD, Beckenham Colombo Street |
Sydenham, Christchurch CBD Burlington Street Gasson Street |
247.1 | 9.9 | Christchurch CBD, Sydenham Gasson Street Burlington Street |
Waltham, Christchurch CBD Waltham Road |
247.4 | 9.6 | Christchurch CBD, Waltham Waltham Road |
Opawa, Addington Opawa Road |
248.2 | 8.8 | Addington, Opawa Opawa Road |
St Martins, Linwood Ensors Road |
248.5 | 8.5 | Linwood, St Martins Ensors Road |
HEATHCOTE RIVER | 249.3 | 7.7 | HEATHCOTE RIVER |
Name change to Brougham Street | 249.5 | 7.5 | Name change to Opawa Road |
St Martins, Woolston Garlands Road |
249.6 | 7.4 | Woolston, St Martins Garlands Road |
Start concurrency with Christchurch Ring Road | End concurrency with Christchurch Ring Road | ||
Murray Aynsley, Woolston Port Hills Road Curries Road |
250.5 | 6.5 | Woolston, Murray Aynsley Curries Road Port Hills Road |
Name change to Opawa Road | Name change to Port Hills Road | ||
Lyttelton, Woolston Tunnel Road |
252.1 | 4.9 | Woolston, Lyttelton Tunnel Road |
Start State Highway 73 as Port Hills Road |
End State Highway 73 Continues as Port Hills Road |
State Highway 73A | |
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Location: | HornbyโSockburn |
Length: | 3.6 km (2.2 mi) |
State Highway 73A is a spur section of SH 73 connecting the suburbs of Hornby, New Zealand and Sockburn, New Zealand via Main South Road and Blenheim Road. Before 2004 it formed part of the old route of SH 73 and further before that SH 1. It is one of the few state highways in New Zealand to be wholly dual carriageway.
State Highway 73A | |||
Westbound intersections | Distance to Hornby (km) |
Distance to Christchurch CBD (km) |
Eastbound intersections |
End continues as Main South Road |
0 | 10 | Start as Main South Road from |
Springston, Timaru, Hornby, Picton Shands Road Carmen Road |
Picton, Hornby, Timaru, Springston Carmen Road Shands Road |
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Prebbleton, Lincoln Springs Road |
1.7 | 8.3 | Prebbleton, Lincoln Springs Road |
Wigram, Middleton, Sockburn Symes Road Green Lane |
2.1 | 7.9 | Sockburn, Wigram, Middleton Green Lane Symes Road |
MAIN SOUTH LINE | 2.2 | 7.8 | MAIN SOUTH LINE |
Broomfield, Yaldhurst Lowther Street Racecourse Road |
2.4 | 7.6 | Broomfield, Yaldhurst Racecourse Road Lowther Street |
Upper Riccarton, Sockburn Alloy Street Epsom Road Main South Road SOCKBURN ROUNDABOUT |
2.6 | 7.4 | Upper Riccarton, Sockburn Epsom Road Main South Road Alloy Street SOCKBURN ROUNDABOUT |
Name change to Main South Road | Name change to Blenheim Road | ||
Upper Riccarton, Halswell Curletts Road |
3.8 | 6.2 | Upper Riccarton, Halswell Curletts Road |
End continues as Blenheim Road to Christchurch CBD |
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