SH25A To Be Open By Late March 2024
Written by John Freer on June 27, 2023
By John Freer
State Highway 25A will be open by the end of March next year – this announced today by Waka Kotahi.
Work is underway for the construction of a bridge reconnecting the highway which closed in January after a significant road washout.
Contract negotiations, according to NZTA are on-going with the preferred consortia however, there has been no delay to the work programme, said NZTA’s Regional Manager of Infrastructure Delivery Waikato/Bay of Plenty, Jo Wilton.
“A bridge of this type would normally be expected to take 12 to 14 months to construct, but Waka Kotahi is working with the consortia to accelerate delivery and get the route open in nine months’ time, by the end of March 2024,” Ms Wilton says.
A small private dawn blessing took place at the site this morning signalling the formal start of enabling works.
“Drainage water management is underway today with earthworks to build all-weather access tracks for heavy machinery the next job ahead,” Ms Wilton says.
Over the last fortnight, project ecologists and the design and construction team have been visiting the site to confirm design assumptions and develop construction methodologies.
“Drilling to confirm the founding depth of the piles at the location of the bridge abutments began last Wednesday under the jurisdiction of Waka Kotahi contractors who remained in charge of the site until the consortium were given the keys following the blessing this morning,” says Ms Wilton.
Waka Kotahi is doing everything possible to further accelerate construction, which will include contractors working extended hours at the work site and working seven days a week where possible.
“Up to 100 people will be working at the SH25A Taparahi site with additional labour dedicated to offsite works, such as prefabrication of bridge components.
“Workers will be divided into two teams working two 10-hour shifts, with 80 percent of the crew housed locally on the peninsula,” Ms Wilton explains.
Over the next two months a platform will be built to support the cranes required for the build.
Pile casings will be in the country by the end of July, with piling getting underway in August.
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Peter Crook On June 27, 2023 at 11:45 am
Thanks for the updates on this important work. In truth, your communication and clear progress through this situation has been excellent and much appreciated – now we all share your hope for an incident-free and timely “delivery” of course.
All the best guys.