The final link in Christchurch’s eastern ring road is now under construction.

The last piece, from Eureka Street to Birch Street, will complete the expressway corridor from Main North Road at St Bedes College to Dyers Road and on to the Tunnel Road.

Work started late last month and should be finished in a year.

Being built is a two-lane road, with a cycle and pedestrian pathway on its south side. The Pages-Bexley roundabout will be removed and the entrances to Bexley Road narrowed. Traffic lights will be put where the expressway crosses Pages Road.

City Councillor Denis O’Rourke says the final result will be an efficient and safe road for heavy traffic linking the Port of Lyttelton to the state highway system.

“The route will complete the ring road system Christchurch has needed for so long. The new expressway relieves pressure on local streets that were not designed to carry arterial traffic, such as Bexley Road,” Cr O’Rourke says.

“It’s also one of the city's most attractive arterial roads. The City Council is proud to have achieved this with assistance from Transfund and Transit New Zealand.”

Completing the job involves the permanent closures of the expressway ends of Eureka, Carisbrooke, Bexley, Brook and Birch. The contractor will make sure residents know when the closures are to take place.

Also being made is a park-like area opposite Carisbrooke Street. The riverbank will be changed to make it easier to get access to the water and other work will help reduce the effects of flooding. The existing cycleway along the riverbank will remain.

While the work is being under way, the site will be closed. That is likely to mean the blocking of an informal walkway from Farnborough Reserve to Pages Road.

On completion of the expressway,Transit NZ proposes to make it State Highway 74. Currently SH 74 provides access to the port from the north through the central city.