Source: New Zealand Transport Agency
It’s not every day commuters between Napier and Hastings get to see a drilling rig in Tutaekuri River.
But that’s exactly what they’ll see from early March as work progresses on the State Highway 2 Hawke’s Bay Expressway Road of National Significance project.
The drilling rig will be here and in other locations on the expressway for approximately 4 weeks while geotechnical investigations are carried out, subject to consent approval.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi Principal Project Manager Jacob Laird says the outcome of the investigations will be providing information to help finalise the detailed design of new structures, which form part of the stage 1 construction.
“Before creating new roads and structures (bridges, underpasses and culverts), it’s important that we first get a complete picture of the ground around them. Ground conditions also change over time and the geotechnical investigations will confirm the exact conditions for our designers to work from.
“We are working with Hawke’s Bay Regional Council and mana whenua to ensure conditions of our consents will be met. We appreciate the importance of working carefully and respectfully in and around water.
“In March, we’ll also start the clearance of some vegetation between Pākōwhai Road and Taradale Road to allow for the investigations and future project work.
“This project is a really exciting one for the region and for regular users of the expressway. We’re really grateful for the support we’ve received so far from the public – we don’t take that support for granted, and we’re looking forward to being able to provide people with a safer, more efficient inter-city link,” says Mr Laird.
For more details on the vegetation plan and the project in general:
Tutaekuri River Bridge looking towards Hastings. The drilling rig, once on site and subject to consent approval, will begin geotechnical investigations to the right of the picture.
Silt being delivered on site.
