Ground investigations to be carried out at Maungatapu next Tuesday (2 July) will mark the start of the work to design the new Hairini Link – Maungatapu Underpass project, says the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA).
The investigations will provide information regarding the strength and nature of the ground conditions which will help the design team understand how the new underpass and associated new roads should be built.
NZTA’s Bay of Plenty state highways manager, Brett Gliddon says the work involves digging test pits and boring test holes so samples can be collected, and ground water levels can be determined.
Other works include clearing vegetation so boring machines can access parts of the proposed work sites.
Weather permitting, the investigations are expected to take a week.
He says survey stakes have already been put in place at the Hairini causeway, the Maungatapu roundabout, around the Hammond Street reserve and at the Kaitemako Stream.
Construction of the underpass is likely to commence in 2014/15.
