Back to work: Ground investigation drilling team members Ben Dixon (front), Liam Bartlett and Chaeon Saia (rear).

Ground investigations restart

We were delighted to restart ground investigations last week, following the country’s move to COVID-19 Alert Level 3.

The restart required preparation of a detailed COVID-19 Work Management Plan and adherence of all activities to the measures in place for Alert Level 3, such as social distancing, staying safe and well, and extending of bubbles.

The project has now completed more than 60 per cent of the ground investigation work – that’s 900 metres-plus of vertical drilling and 108 test pits to a depth of 4 metres.

Recovered soil and rock samples are logged by an on-site geologist and then sent to a geotechnical lab to determine their physical properties and how they’ll react when a load is applied.

We’re feeding all information from this investigation work directly into the highway's detailed design, with our designers updating their models as soon as the findings are available.

Right now we have three geotechnical drilling rigs on site, of various sizes but all with the ability to drill to a depth of 100 metres.

The rig shown above is a 17-tonne CRS XL Max Duo, which can drill to 200 metres. Operated via remote control, the rig is 2.5 metres wide, 8 metres long and 9 metres high. It is powered by a 170hp Caterpillar tier 4 engine that operates its hydraulic systems.

Main works consenting process well underway

The process of gaining consent for the new highway's main construction works is progressing well.

Comprising more than 2,500 pages of information across seven volumes, the consent applications (pictured below) were lodged with Horizons Regional Council on 13 March and made available for public comment from 25 March to 24 April.

Nineteen submissions were received and will be considered by the Environment Court ahead of a hearing and its eventual decision on the applications.

Elsewhere, we are also preparing consent applications for the required enabling works – such as the building of access tracks and storage areas – that we hope to begin by October this year.

Engagement continues despite COVID-19 restrictions

Technology has played an enormous role in keeping people connected during the coronavirus restrictions and Te Ahu a Turanga project is no exception.

Since our last round of public information sessions was curtailed by the virus in mid-March – we managed to complete three of the events, in Dannevirke, Ashhurst and Palmerston North before the restrictions were introduced – we've continued to discuss the project with a wide range of stakeholders, thanks to a series of video conferences.

Most recently our Community Liaison Group (CLG) gathered via a Zoom meeting on 30 April, while on the 21st the project team met with members of the CLG's Shared Use Path subgroup. Cultural and Environmental Design Team Lead Bruce McKenzie is pictured below providing an update to the meeting on the path's route and design.

We have also been meeting by video with numerous other stakeholders as off-site progress continues in areas such as planning, consenting, design and construction methodology.

Ashhurst traffic mitigation team returns to site

The Ashhurst Traffic Mitigation team are back on site this month.

They will be working in Salisbury Street, finishing off the new footpath and kerb buildouts and will also start upgrading the Bamfield, Lincoln and Worcester streets intersections.

Work in the Ashhurst village centre will also get underway and motorists should expect short delays when travelling through the township.

People can find out more and read the latest updates at nzta.govt.nz/ashhurst or contact the team at ashhurst@nzta.govt.nz

Below: An artist's impression of the Cambridge Avenue and Bamfield Street intersection, with Ashhurst Library in the background.

More information

For more information on Te Ahu a Turanga: Manawatū Tararua Highway, please contact us at teahuaturanga@nzta.govt.nz

Visit our website nzta.govt.nz/teahuaturanga