SH60 Takaka Hill repairs


	Site 7 – Precast facing panel fabrication and instalment.

	Kia ora Welcome to the June update from the Tākaka Hill repairs team. With winter here we're pleased to advise that construction is well advanced across all five sites and we remain on track to have two lanes open by end of year, with project completion soon after. Following are the key milestones: Site 6 - Retaining wall a third of the way built Site 7 - Completion of large (1800 diameter) culverts under the downhill lane Site 7 - Installation of large pre-cast facing panels to the front wall Site 9 - Completion of retaining wall to road level Site 11 - Completion of retaining wall to road level Site 13 - Retaining wall a third of the way built. In this update, we'll share with you more images so you can see the progress being made beneath the road at each site. Driving by, it's not always easy (nor recommended) to see into the steep gullies below. The next 7-night closure is scheduled for Monday 5 to Monday 12 July. As we reach the final construction stages, further night closures are necessary to carry out essential drainage and pavement works. For safety reasons, and to minimise disruption to traffic, this work must be done at night. Read on to see more. Visit our gallery for all of the project's latest images.


	Site 7 – Lowering the new stormwater inlet structure during May night closure.

	7-night closure, Mon 5 to Mon 12 July, 9pm–5am State Highway 60 Tākaka Hill road will be closed for seven consecutive nights, from 9pm Monday 5 July to 5am Monday 12 July. This work is weather dependent. Closing the road at night will allow our road crew to install a large new culvert (pipe) – to replace the original steel culvert – from Site 11 through the current single traffic lane. This work is essential to ensuring stormwater moves efficiently through the sites, and will help minimise future delays and damage to the sites during heavy rainfall. This is the second of a number of night closures that will need to happen over the coming months. We'll let you know well in advance the dates for future night closures so you can plan ahead. If you need access over the hill for night work or essential commitments, please email takakahill@nzta.govt.nz or call Kane Reihana on 027 886 4508. We will do our best to accommodate your needs. Access is always available for emergency services throughout the closure.

Managing winter weather on site

Weather is something the project team keep a close eye on, especially the rain – which the Tākaka region is renowned for – and which can have a big impact on construction activities.

An important focus onsite is protecting surfaces and stockpiles and diverting water to best prepare for the wetter months.

Clearing slips & debris

Following heavy rainfall, slips and fallen trees are common. The crew respond to any incidents by clearing debris and repairing the road to ensure everyone is kept safe on the road.

Retaining wall with orange digger at upper level

Site 6 – Retaining wall 1/3 constructed

With a solid foundation reached and the wall now a third of the way built, construction will continue through the winter.

In this shot the crew are finishing hand stacking rock along the front face of the wall. Before another rock basket can be constructed, geo grid is lapped over the front with a layer of fill placed so the grid can be lapped back over. This process is repeated on each 200mm deep layer of fill.

Crane lifting precast panel into place over culvert drane.

Site 7 – Precast panel fabrication & instalment

Four of the five sites will have precast concrete panels placed in front of the construction walls. This is to protect the walls from debris that may wash through the culverts or over the road during a large storm event.

On Site 7, the size of the crane required was too large to work from the space above to 'lower and place' the panels onto the wall; vehicles wouldn't have been able to safely navigate past the crane's outriggers. The solution was to create a flat working space in the base of the gully allowing the crane to successfully 'lift and place' the panels into position letting traffic flow continue.

On the top of the wall, capping, guardrails and pavement construction will continue over winter.

Below the wall, earthworks will be completed, rip rap protection will be installed and the access track will be removed.

Site 9 – Capping beam & hand rails completed

As Site 9 nears completion, the crew put the finishing touches on the top of the retaining wall – capping beams and hand rails. Following this, pavement construction can start.

Retaining wall with bulldozer at the top moving dirt.

Site 11 – Retaining wall is nearing completion

As the retaining wall nears completion, the crew focus on the final stage of installing the culvert through the live lane under a 7–night closure (5–12 July). See story at top of page for more.

Following this, work on the top and front of the wall will be completed. And below the wall, earthworks will be completed, rip rap protection will be installed and the access track will be removed.

Site 13 – Retaining wall 1/3 constructed

The crew have made progress on Site 13, with the retaining wall nearly a third completed. In this shot, the excavator pulls fill over a freshly laid layer of geo grid.


	Find out more


	Email us at takakahill@nzta.govt.nz Visit our website nzta.govt.nz/takaka-hill

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Kia ora

7-night closure, Mon 5 to Mon 12 July, 9pm–5am