Source: New Zealand Transport Agency
Construction on Transmission Gully is inching closer to the finish line, but the contractor, Wellington Gateway Partnership (WGP), and their sub-contractor, CPB HEB Joint Venture, still have more work to do before the road can open.
With both the northern and southern ends of the new motorway starting to look more complete, it’s important to remember there is still work to be done behind the hills and on the safety and quality assurance tests and consent tasks that need to be completed for the road to safely and legally open to traffic.
Under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) contract, it is the responsibility of WGP and the builder, CPB HEB, to deliver a road that meets the safety, quality and environmental standards agreed in the contract, and expected by the public.
These tests are important, not just to meet the contractual requirements, but to help ensure there are no major issues that would require repairs after the road opens to traffic, which could lead to frustrating and disruptive closures for motorists.
There are 100 safety and quality assurance tests the contract stipulates must be met before the road can open. WGP and the builder also need to complete 45 consent tasks in order to meet the contractual requirements for road opening.
As at 19 November 2021:
- 38 final test submissions have been received from the builder, of which 28 have been accepted by the Independent Reviewer as meeting the required specifications
- 45 partial submissions have been made and 17 tests are yet to be submitted
As at 12 November 2021:
- Seven of the consent tasks have been completed
- Of the 38 remaining consent tasks, 36 are underway and have been progressed to varying degrees, and two are not yet started.
Northbound work on the road surface where Transmission Gully will connect with the existing State Highway 1 was finished over the weekend, with southbound paving scheduled to take place this weekend.
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency is reminding people that while the road may start to look finished, the safety, compliance and assurance tests still need to be completed for the road to open safely to traffic.
Once those standards are met, the PPP contract will move into the service phase – the 25-year maintenance and operations period which will be managed by WGP and their maintenance and operations subcontractor, Ventia, after which it will be handed to Waka Kotahi at an agreed standard.
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