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SH1 Brynderwyn Hills recovery and enabling works |
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20 May 2024 |
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Work continues at Kauri Tree Corner (top image taken 10 May and bottom image taken 20 May) What's been happening this weekIt’s been an eventful couple of weeks. We know the extended closure is difficult for local communities and businesses and how important this connection is for Northland. While the closure is in place, Northland is still open and ready for visitors through our 3 official detour routes, SH12/SH14, Paparoa Oakleigh Road and Cove Road. We are working 7 days a week and the plan is to reopen at the end of June providing it is safe to do so and conditions allow. You will see from the image above that good progress is being made on clearing up to 55,000 cubic metres of dirt needed to stabilise the hillside. Excavators are working from a platform at the top of the ridge to remove soil helping to reduce the likelihood of further slips. An average of 5 metres has been taken off the top of the slip site, with almost 8 metres already taken from the northern end. A safety measure we are using while this ridge work is done is to tether the diggers (like the one in the left-hand corner of the top photo) to bulldozers. After soil at the top of the hill has been excavated it means we can then safely remove soil from the bottom of the slip and relocate it to the fill sites. While the slips have changed the programme of work at Kauri Tree corner, we have been getting ahead in other zones and have undertaken works that had originally been scheduled to be completed as post closure works. In the image below you can see where soil nails have been used to stabilise and reinforce the slopes. The reinforced steel bars are installed into pre-drilled holes and grouted into place. Other works include pavement and drainage, and we will talk about this below and in future newsletters. |
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Laying the new shoulderCreating a new shoulder on the road involves a meticulous process to ensure durability and longevity. This graphic shows the approach to laying a new road on the shoulder space we have created next to the existing road. It begins with the foundation layer which is usually composed of compacted soil or aggregate. Next the subbase layer is applied which provides stability and drainage, followed by the asphalt base course layer, which serves as a load-bearing foundation. Above these foundational layers, the wearing course is applied, often made of asphalt or concrete, providing the surface for vehicles to travel. Each layer is carefully engineered to withstand the stresses of traffic and environmental factors, ensuring the road's integrity for years to come. |
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The new road is built in layers with this image showing the asphalt being rolled into place. |
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Specialist equipment- rollersWe have 3 different types of rollers on the project, each with their own special job; smooth drum rollers (also known as 3-point static roller), construction rollers and pneumatic tyre rollers (PTRs). Smooth drum rollers are used for asphalting and compacting pavement layer. As the name implies, they use smooth steel drums for compaction. They are useful when the material being compacted doesn’t require a lot of pressure, so are helpful for the top layer of asphalt. Construction rollers are also used to compact pavement layers and can do this quickly because of their wide front roller. PTRs provide a sealing effect so are great to help smooth out material while maintaining constant pressure, making them ideal for laying chipseal and asphalt in a smooth layer. Smooth drum roller below (also known as 3-point static roller) |
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Construction roller (with back tyre & smooth drum on the front) |
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Pneumatic tyre roller |
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Long-term Brynderwyn Hills alternativeWhile the recovery work completed during the closure will ensure the road for the short to medium term, we know people are interested in the longer term alternative too. Earlier this year Hon Simeon Brown announced an alternative to SH1 Brynderwyn Hills in the draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) on Land Transport. It was one of 15 roads identified as Roads of National Significance (RoNS). NZTA has now released our proposed delivery approach for the government’s 15 RoNS, including the Northland corridor as a priority, in the State Highway Investment Proposal (SHIP). You can read this document here. Minister Brown has confirmed that boosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the government’s plan to rebuild the economy and it’s critical that we move at pace on the Roads of National Significance, getting people and freight where they need to go quickly and safely. The GPS will be confirmed by the Minister later in the year. We are moving at pace to position ourselves for successful delivery of the Roads of National Significance (pending funding confirmation under the 2024-27 NLTP). |
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Aurora AustralisWhat a treat to see the Aurora Australis light up our skies – even this far north. Check out a few pictures from Saturday 10 May. |
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Meet LauraWhat is your role? I’m a site engineer for the Brynderwyn Hills Project, specifically looking after the southern side cut sites. What is your connection to the area? I have grown up in Waipu and lived here up until moving away to study engineering. The Brynderwyns and the view from the top have always signalled the feeling of home for myself, greeting me back from my adventures from all over New Zealand. The Brynderwyn Hills have always provided a vital route for my family as well as the community to the greater part of beautiful Northland. Why is this project special? I’m grateful to be given the opportunity to further my skills by working on a vital and familiar route such as SH1, Brynderwyn Hills. The fundamental principal of the project is to create a reliable road which will allow family, friends and the wider community of northland to stay connected with the rest of New Zealand. Where is your favourite place in Northland? Having grown up in Northland, I’ve had the opportunity to travel and explore the area well. However, my parents farm, the place I grew up and learnt so many of my life skills, still remains my favourite place in Northland. Tell us something about yourself In my spare time outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my partner and family, whether that be exploring different parts of New Zealand and further beyond, or brunching on a Sunday morning. I was fortunate enough to travel a lot when I was younger with my family and have caught the travel bug! |
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Key information at a glance
Three scenic detour routes available:
Local routes contact Whangarei District Council 0800 932 463 Kaipara District Council 0800 727 059 State Highway route contact NZTA 0800 444 449 |
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More information |
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For more information on the SH1 Brynderwyn Hills project, contact us at northlandproject@nzta.govt.nz Visit our website www.nzta.govt.nz/brynderwyn-hills |
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