A resident in the rural suburb of Prebbleton, near Christchurch, is concerned a new four-lane motorway will pollute the area.
The Transport Agency is proposing to build a $100 million highway from the Selwyn District to the Port of Lyttelton to help traffic and freight flow more efficiently through the South Island city.
Elizabeth Lumsden says she is appalled that the road could be within 500 metres of her lifestyle block.
Ms Lumsden says she does not understand why it has to be built so close to a residential suburb, saying it would ruin the area with noise and air pollution.
The agency says it is continuing to consult with the community and no final decision has been made on where the motorway will run.
