30 June 2023

Celebrating One Year of the O Mahurangi Alliance

We’d like to thank everyone involved in making this long-standing community vision a reality.

O Mahurangi – Penlink will form a vital transport link in north Auckland as more people live and work in Silverdale, Whangaparāoa and the Hibiscus Coast. The new two-lane road and shared walking and cycling path will provide improved travel times between Whangaparāoa and wider Auckland.

Between June 2022 - June 2023, the Alliance has:

• made progress on vegetation and site clearance, as well as building haul roads
• made progress on critical utility relocation work
• undertook archaeological investigations in known areas subject to disturbance
• debuted our mobile information hub

Stay tuned as we gear up for main construction works in October.

250 Duck Creek Road site entrance being paved.

June Winter Works

Winter works continue to progress. Here are some highlights:

Whangaparāoa

A site office has been established in Whangaparāoa. This office will host the project management and coordination needed on the Whangaparāoa side of the project.

Starting in mid-July, we will start enabling works in the former Cedar Reserve. To facilitate these activities, a site access and exit point off Cedar Terrace will be established. This access will enable a variety of activities which includes the drilling of a water bore, providing us with a dedicated water supply for dust control and construction purposes.

Works will soon start on the removal of the derelict house adjacent to Whangaparāoa Road.

Also, the former Cedar Reserve will be closed for all public access from mid-July to allow construction of the new Whangaparāoa Road intersection. A perimeter fence will be installed to keep the public safe from the construction works.

Duck Creek Road

Earthworks in the Duck Creek Road east area have been ongoing. We moved 2,000 cubic metres of clay during the week commencing 12 June due to the good weather. This exceeds our weekly target of 1,200 cubic metres. In total, 14,000 cubic metres of clay need to move, with 10,000 cubic metres remaining. This work is in preparation for the construction of the temporary platform that will extend into the Wēiti River so the bridge build can begin.

Tree clearing activities in the pine forest block west of Duck Creek Road have started up again. These works will finish by mid to late July, depending on weather conditions.

We paved the site entrance at 250 Duck Creek Road as pictured above. This paving work has enhanced access to the site and improving traffic flow during day-to-day construction activities. 

East Coast Road, SH1, and Ara Wēiti Road

We have started fencing works and site preparation activities in this area and will continue with tree clearing and service relocations. Upcoming work in this area includes:

• establishing environmental controls and continuing site access tracks
• tree felling along East Coast Road/SH1 in late July, which will be done at night
• service relocation

Construction works to begin mid-July for our main site office on Ara Wēiti Road.

Winter wellbeing activity - the team gathers to spell out OMA (O Mahurangi).

Weathering Winter

Winter brings unpredictable weather conditions and reduced daylight hours. Our construction team ensures the safety and wellbeing of everyone while maintaining project efficiency.

One of our primary focuses during winter is reducing the impact of bad weather on site. Erosion Sediment Controls (ESC) are designed with a “treatment train” in mind, so as not to put pressure on just one device. Devices in series help to control dirty water flow, improve efficiency of larger devices and to make maintenance easier and less frequent. Our team onsite is always improving our environmental controls and doing maintenance where needed.

The environment changes and reacts differently to construction activity throughout the year. During winter, we have to apply for winter works approval from Auckland Council each month. Only activities that are on the critical path and can be safely and efficiently carried out during wetter months are applied for. This also reduces the pressure on our ESC devices.

We limit access to parts of site to reduce risk to our team and minimise access track and haul road damage. Terrain can change overnight and you can find yourself in trouble if you’re not careful. Due to higher risks in low light conditions, we reduce work hours to suit daylight hours and weather conditions. There is no weekend work unless needed in critical areas.

Our winter works ensure we still get the most out of wetter winter months which put us in a good position to start the earthworks season strong and utilise the sunshine for moving dirt. We plan back-up activities so it’s still a productive day if the weather turns bad. As works progress throughout winter, site teams re-adjust work programmes to continue meeting critical milestones.

Architect's rendering of the Wēiti River Bridge.

Crossing the Wēiti | Te whakawhiti i te Wēiti

The Wēiti River Bridge will stand at a height of approximately 46 metres above the Wēiti River at its highest point. This height is almost the same as the iconic Harbour Bridge. Because of its height, wind loads will play a significant role in the design and construction of the bridge.

“Wind load” is the force exerted by wind on an object. When wind blows against an object, it creates pressure that can push or pull on the object. When designing a bridge, we consider wind loads on the structure as well as the safety and comfort of its users. This includes pedestrians, cyclists, cars, trucks, and motorcyclists. Trucks and motorcyclists are particularly vulnerable to high winds.

To calculate wind effects on the bridge and its users, we use wind load formula and published drag coefficients. We use drag coefficients to calculate and compare wind load against different parts of the bridge. They help us create structures that are resilient in the face of extreme wind forces.

We are also undertaking wind tunnel testing of key components to confirm the accuracy of our calculations. This testing is currently underway in a specialist wind tunnel facility in Denmark. The testing will finish in the next six weeks. The wind tunnel testing allows us to observe performance of key bridge components in controlled wind conditions.

The detailed design of the Wēiti River Bridge will continue for about another seven months. We will use insights from the wind tunnel testing to create a robust and resilient bridge design.

Te Whakanui i a Matariki | Celebrating the Māori New Year

Mānawa maiea te putanga o Matariki
Mānawa maiea te ariki o te rangi
Mānawa maiea te Mātahi o te tau

Matariki is a time for remembrance, celebrating the present and looking to the future.

Matariki Hunga Nui
Remembrance
Honouring those we have lost since the last rising of Matariki.

Matariki Ahunga Nui
Celebrating the Present
Gathering together to give thanks for what we have.

Matariki Manako Nui
Looking to the Future
Looking forward to the promise of a new year.

Everyone acknowledges Matariki the Māori New Year differently but for our O Mahurangi whānau we came together at Awataha Marae in Northcote to have a workshop to plan for the new year ahead. As a wider alliance team (or whānau) we are sharing knowledge and coordinating activities that align with the principles of Matariki.

For more information on the O Mahurangi - Penlink project, contact us on 0800 PENLINK (0800 7365 465) or at omahurangi@nzta.govt.nz

Visit our website: www.nzta.govt.nz/penlink