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SH25/SH25A Thames-Coromandel

4 August 2023


	SH25A site update - ground stabilising The team on site have had some great and not so great weather - last week was magic but there were a few downpours, however this week blue bird days and chilly! Weather is an important factor in the ground stabilisation. This is what some of the teams are doing at the moment. When stabilising the ground, they need it to be reasonably dry to manage the quantities of cement being mixed in and the curing time. Things are drying out and the team has been injecting 75 tonnes of cement, five metres deep into approximately 300m3 (106 tonnes) of slip material at the base of the slip area to retain and stabilise it. Another team has been mixing 6,000m3 (or 2119 tonnes) of slip material with over 1,000 tonnes of lime and cement on the slope to form a stable layer that will support the heavy machinery working there and eventually the new bridge. Our Kōpū set up A local Kōpū yard is being used to store machinery and materials, and if you’re local, you may have seen the first of the six seismic pile casings arrive. The oversized pile casings began arriving last week – but they won’t stay there long as work got underway this week on installing the casings at the eastern abutment.



	SH25A site set up - western side


	The big machines have arrived Last week a 100 tonne (t) support crane arrived on site, ahead of the piling rig and casings. Next the piling rig - 80t (or 82.2t to be exact), delivered in three truckloads. Once set up, it has counterweights attached, bringing its total weight up to 100t. There are seven excavators, totalling 124t of earthmoving power on site, including a 30t, two 20t, 14.5t, 13t, 10t, 8.5t, and 8t. Along with a 30t tracked and two 10t tracked moxy’s, also more commonly known as articulated dump trucks. As well as… machines such as a broom sweeper, a roller, and some smaller drilling rigs. Making a grand total of 19 machines on site! We were pretty excited to share our first drone video of the worksite and arrival of the piling rig. If you missed it, take a look here.



	The big rig This week the 100t piling rig started driving the first piles for the new bridge. First to be installed are the seismic casings and after that the permanent piles. There are eight 22m long permanent piles that will sit in two sets of four, and with the two abutments, will support the new bridge deck. Each pile will be driven at least 10m into the rock to confirm it is a solid rock foundation. That means some piles will be driven at least 20m into the ground! We will be using an auger or ‘screw’ method to install the piles which minimises noise and vibration impacts on the ground and for the surrounding wildlife.

Stuck in the muck

We’ve been questioned many times why a temporary bypass can’t be formed. As much as we hoped for it to be an option, and we did investigate it, a temporary bypass is not possible.

The steep topography needs extensive earthworks and retaining to form slopes for regular vehicles, or temporary staging across the slip. Ground conditions are so poor even our drilling equipment needs a digger to assist when shifting location.

Unfortunately, someone didn’t quite believe us and gave it a go. As you can see, they needed a tow. Luckily it was wet and boggy, if they had made it over the top, there is a 6-metre drop off to the state highway.

Trust us, we looked into it.

It takes a village

That ‘village’ comes together from around New Zealand and internationally. To build this bridge in the shortest time possible, we’re sourcing materials from a variety of places. We’d like to do a wee shout out to the local businesses helping us out:

Civil & Landfill Construction Ltd (CLC)
Kōpū Engineering
JCD
K and L Distributors
Leach’s Quarry
Storm Contracting
Kennards Hire
Porter Hire
Smart Environmental
Various accommodation providers in Thames (so far)

Theft from work sites cost us all

Over the last few weeks there has been a noticeable increase in theft from our work sites across the Coromandel Peninsula.

The theft of plant and equipment exposes road users to the risk of harm and/or injury as safety devices such electronic warning and temporary traffic management signs are used to help manage everyone safely through our worksites.

Theft also delays the completion of works, while our teams are distracted from the vital recovery works reinstating what has been stolen.

We ask if you have any knowledge concerning these thefts, please contact the NZ Police.


	More information

For more information on the SH25/SH25A Thames-Coromandel project, contact us at coromandel@nzta.govt.nz

Visit our website www.nzta.govt.nz/thames-coromandel

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SH25/SH25A Thames-Coromandel

SH25A site update - ground stabilising

The big machines have arrived

The big rig

Stuck in the muck

It takes a village

Theft from work sites cost us all

More information