Construction update

Welcome to the October 2019 construction update

A very wet late winter slowed progress on the Southern Corridor Improvements (SCI) project over August and September, but the advent of spring has seen an increase in activity to catch up.

The project is currently utilising more than 40,000 work hours a month. Despite the weather, the project remains on track for the opening of additional motorway lanes in each direction by late 2019.

Works on Great South Road and on the shared pedestrian/cycle path will continue into early 2020.

Here is the latest on what’s been happening across the project over the last month, as well as what’s coming up.

Progress on the SCI project

Takanini northbound on-ramp closed Labour Weekend

Takanini northbound on-ramp closed Labour Weekend

The horseshoe-shaped northbound motorway on-ramp at Takanini will be closed for the whole of Labour Weekend, from 10pm Friday 25 October until 5am Tuesday 29 October.

All southbound motorway ramps will remain open and southbound traffic will be unaffected. The northbound off-ramp and Great South Road at Takanini will also remain open.

Any local traffic wanting to access the northbound motorway will need to use either the Papakura or Hill Road on-ramps, with detours in place.

During the closure, the current temporary paving will be replaced and the road surface of the on-ramp prepared for its final alignment, including kerbing and road marking.

The first bridge span is delivered to site

New bridge at Pescara Point takes shape

Components of the new footbridge over the motorway at Pescara Point are now appearing in the central median and approach ramps. The bridge support piers have been installed at Pescara Point Reserve (Hingaia) and Pahurehure Esplanade Reserve, alongside the curved concrete approach ramps.

A temporary support tower has been installed and the first of the giant bridge spans has been delivered into the central median. It will be “dressed” with handrails before being lifted into place.

During October, weather permitting, the remaining three bridge sections will be delivered and installed.

The progressive installation of the new foot bridge at Pescara Point

Steel cables and reinforced steel caging provide a skeleton for the 360-metre split-level barrier

Split level barrier makes median safer

In the middle of the Southern motorway between Orams Road and Hill Road, passing motorists may notice a height difference between the northbound and southbound carriageways, with traffic on the northbound side in some places sitting up to a metre higher than traffic coming the other way.

Working in a widened central median, the construction team has built 360 metres of split-level barrier by hand, incorporating steel cables and reinforced steel caging inside the concrete, for added strength.

On the northbound side, the median barrier wall looks a normal 1.07 metres high, but viewed from the southbound side, the retaining wall and barrier is up to 1.8 metres high.

This section of motorway will have a two-to-three-metre wide median shoulder to allow motorists a long sightline through the curves of the roadway, giving them more time to react in case of emergencies.

Pahurehure Inlet bridge

Pahurehure Inlet bridge almost complete

Final paving is underway this month for the last stage of the Pahurehure Inlet bridge replacement. This is a 30-metre long causeway bridge on the motorway at the water’s edge.

This month, installation will also begin on concrete and steel barriers along the motorway shoulder leading up to and away from the new bridge. Southbound traffic, which is currently diverted over the northbound bridge, will switch to travel in two lanes over the new bridge later this month.

This switch will create a central median work zone to allow construction of the final central median barrier between the northbound and southbound lanes.

Energy-efficient LED lights are being installed

Lighting up

All along the SCI Project, the old incandescent light poles on the sides of the motorway are being replaced with new, energy-efficient LED lights located in the central median.

Three hundred and eighty-six new LED lights are being installed on the motorway and along the shared use path for the SCI Project. As they are installed and made operational, the old lights will be removed.

The modern “T” design reduces overspill and focuses the light where it is needed – on the motorway lanes.

The new lights will be more reliable and less expensive to run, with bulbs that need changing less frequently.

First pour of shared use path concrete

Final surface of shared use path underway

Enthusiastic pedestrians and cyclists are getting excited to see the first sections of shared use path as they take shape in finished concrete.

Keen to see the progress and be the first to traverse the new, brushed concrete path, curious visitors must wait until safety barriers are installed and the path is completed. The new, galvanised steel balustrading on the path where it crosses the water is due to be installed later in the project. It will be painted black so that it doesn't intrude on the views from the shared use path out over Pahurehure Inlet.

More than five kilometres of concrete path will be completed over the coming months, dependent on fine weather.

What’s Coming Up in October

Northern area

• Construction of central median barriers using slipform technology and hand-pouring
• Lighting installation
• Removal of temporary barriers
• Start of final surfacing

Central area and Great South Road Takanini interchange

• Traffic shift on Takanini northbound off-ramp followed by construction of the final alignment ramp on the old “golf course” corner
• Labour Day weekend closure of Takanini northbound on-ramp for earthworks and paving, and to shift the on-ramp into final alignment
• Continuing construction of the Takanini southbound off-ramp in preparation for traffic shift
• Drainage and paving work on the Takanini southbound on-ramp in preparation for traffic shift
• Construction of central median barriers on the motorway

Southern area

• Work on the bridge at Pescara Point and links to the shared use path
• Paving of southbound motorway lanes across Pahurehure Inlet bridge
• Traffic switch onto new Pahurehure Inlet causeway bridge
• Construction of central median barrier using slipform technology
• Permanent median lighting works
• Shared use path concreting at Conifer Grove
• Shared use path lighting installation and landscaping

For further information

We hope you have enjoyed this construction update and we look forward to letting you know more about the construction works for the project.

If you have any questions or queries, please contact our team on free phone 0508 NZTA SCI (0508 6982 724) or at southerncorridor@nzta.govt.nz. And feel free to visit us at the Project Office located at 8-12 Great South Road, Takanini (behind the Gull petrol station).