Soil nailing has been taking place at the Mangaharakeke and Mangaone gullies in Matangi, securing the foundations for bridge work.
Progress of the Hamilton section of the Waikato Expressway is continuing smoothly, as visible to those commuting to Hamilton each day.
There are still some earthworks to complete on the Tamahere and Matangi sections, but pavement works are due to begin shortly. The entire 22km Hamilton project is about half way completed, due to be finished in 2020.
One of the busiest sites on the project is the southern gullies between SH1 and Matangi Rd, where slope stabilisation work is under way. Construction teams have completed soil nailing on the gully banks and are driving new foundations for the two bridges over the Mangaone and Mangaharakeke Gullies. Bored piling has started at the Mangaonua Gully bridge, just south of Morrinsville Rd. This 150m steel-beamed bridge will be the only one of its kind on the project and it will also be the longest. So far, foundations at each end of the bridge have been completed and abutment construction is under way.
An aerial photo taken earlier this month shows progress of the southern interchange at Tamahere, next to the existing SH1.
A big reconstruction job continues at Ruakura Rd between SH26-Morrinsville Rd and the Vaile Rd/Davison Rd intersection. Completion of the final pavement layers, kerb and channel, footpath construction, drainage and sealing are still to come, and this will require stop/go traffic controls from time to time. In tandem with this work a roundabout is taking shape at the Ruakura Rd/Morrinsville Rd intersection to improve safety.
For up to date information and photos visit the Waikato Expressway Facebook page or go to www.nzta.govt.nz/hamilton.
