Geotechnical teams are out in Karāpiro checking what lies beneath land tagged for use in the construction of the Cambridge to Piarere Expressway.
Core samples showing the composition of the soil.
Geotechnical investigations have been progressing for several months across properties in Karāpiro, and NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi is now at a stage where they need to look underneath the existing road surface.
“We’re doing robust testing of the soil and rock at various sites across the future construction area,” NZTA’s Regional Manager Infrastructure Delivery, Darryl Coalter said.
“The team are gathering core samples to assess the ground conditions, including soil and rock types, groundwater depths and the strength of the material.
“This allows us to better understand what’s below the surface to help us design and plan how to build the road.”
Geotechnical teams drill for core samples Moana Roa Reserve in Karāpiro.
It is part of the detailed design phase for the expressway and involves determining the final layout of the road, and what is required to build it.
The new road from the existing end of the expressway near Cambridge south to the new Piarere roundabout is next cab off the rank in a series of major arterial routes to be developed in and around Waipā.
The drill inside a Cone Penetration Test rig.
It will be a 16km four lane expressway which will bring economic benefits and time saving. Work is expected to start late next year.
Also coming is the Southern Links project which will link Kahikatea Drive in Hamilton with the expressway at Tamahere and Hamilton Airport with the east and centre of the city.
Of the present geotechnical work Coalter said it would “inform how we’ll deal with stormwater, what the landscaping elements need to look like, where all the power lines, internet and phone cables are and where they might need to shift to.”
Six nights of work started this week. A team is digging 40cm by 40cm pits in the road and using specialist equipment to investigate what’s underneath and collect soil samples. Once one site is completed, the crew will patch up the road before moving to the next site.
The work should be finished this weekend.
Geotechnical teams drill for core samples Moana Roa Reserve in Karāpiro.
