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SH1 Brynderwyn Hills recovery and enabling works |
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4 June 2024 |
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Approximately 56,000 cubic metres of earth has been excavated from Kauri Tree Corner (image taken 3 June) What's been happening this weekThe days are certainly getting shorter and the nights cooler and longer, but our teams continue to work as quickly as they can to reopen the road at the end of June. We are making good progress on clearing the slip and the plan is to reopen at the end of June providing conditions allow and it is safe to do so. We’ve cleared 56,000 of the additional 60,500 cubic metres from Kauri Tree Corner and benching (creating levels) of the hillside is nearing completion. Elsewhere on the road the remaining asphalt and drainage is progressing well. The graphic below provides a snapshot of where we are tracking across the site. |
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Rip rap apronsWe’ve talked about rip raps in an earlier update, where a bed of rocks is used to slow water flow so it doesn’t erode the earth. Rip rap aprons are used at the end of a stormwater system, where the pipe vents from underground and the mouth is exposed. Stormwater is then directed into gullies away from the road or another appropriate location. The rip rap apron is laid on top of the ground at the end of the pipe, so the rocks can distribute the stormwater at a slower pace and protect the ground. These aprons are being used at various locations in the Brynderwyn Hills, to support the drainage system and mitigate erosion in weather events. |
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Top image showing a CAT 815 and the bottom image showing a CAT 825 that has also been used on site Specialist equipment- compactorsWe've used a compactor in the southern fill site called a CAT 815 (caterpillar 815F) sheepsfoot roller. It works in combination with a bulldozer, to help increase the density of the soil, providing stability and strength. Once a bulldozer has spread out the dirt the CAT 815 comes along and pushes dirt out to level and compact it. The CAT 815 has been used for compacting at the Atlas fill site and also at sites A and B. |
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Your questions answeredWe’ve seen a number of people asking similar questions on social media and we wanted to provide you with a response to some of these commonly asked questions.
Can’t you just put more diggers and equipment on the hill to make the excavation faster? We’ve programmed works on the slip site at Kauri Tree Corner to maximise safety and efficiency- if we put too many diggers on the hillside it would slow down excavation. An overcrowding of machinery would mean there would not be enough space for the dump trucks to cart the dirt away and would result in both the diggers and dump trucks being less efficient. The bench is narrow, so has limited room for machines to move around. We are working 7 days a week to get the work completed as quickly as possible.
If the work happening at other sites was on track for the reopening, why is it still happening? Before the slips in late April, we were on track to reopen the road on 13 May 2024. We had always planned for some ongoing work to take place outside of the full closure, using our newly created shoulder space behind a barrier from traffic. We’ve now used the extended full closure to get ahead with some of those post-closure works. Also, the pavement and asphalt works on the new shoulder at Kauri Tree Corner were delayed because of the slips. We have to wait until the slip is fully cleared at a road level before we can start the pavement and asphalt works in that zone.
Why are you doing road works on the detour routes? We’re continuing to monitor the 3 official detour routes each day. During the planned closure period we only completed emergency repairs, deferring other works to May and June. With the closure extended we now need to complete some of these deferred works to maintain the quality and safety of the road. Road users will start to see more activity on the detours as these urgent works begin. Where we can, we will schedule these at night or on weekends to minimise disruption. We recommend road users use journey planner to help plan their travel.
Can't you just make it 4 lanes or a build a tunnel? The purpose of this recovery work project is to ensure this vital connection for Northland, for the short to medium term. Following the weather events of early 2023, SH1 Brynderwyn Hills would have been unlikely to survive the next severe weather event in its previous state. The long-term option is also being progressed. 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 state highway priorities, including the government’s 15 RoNS, 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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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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