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Busy night works on SH16: in the foreground, the combined services trench crew are at work while in the distance the Stormwater Team are trenching across the highway to connect new pipes to the stormwater system. Once the trench is the correct width and length for the new stormwater pipe, layers of bedding are placed in the trench and compacted to support the pipe prior to connection and back filling. The combined services trench crew are excavating a continuous trench to lay and connect new, empty lengths of utility service ducting along the roadside. The utility service connections can then be pulled through the ducts ready to be connected to farms, houses or businesses either soon or in the future. This is what a new combined services trench looks like inside. The ducts are laid lengthwise in a bed of fine gravel to keep them separated and level. The warning tapes for any future excavation tell us what they will contain; orange for Vector power, Green for Chorus comms and red for Vector Comms. After the combined services trench ducting pipes are laid and secure, the trench is carefully back filled and compacted to create an even ground surface that can withstand weights like cars and trucks travelling above.
CST: CST stands for Combined Services Trench. The trench is carefully prepared to receive multiple underground ducting pipes. These will carry services such as power to existing and future home or commercial connections. NE Berry Bridge: In January, work to the North East of Berry Bridge included building a platform to receive the a crane to assist with the construction of the newly widened bridge infrastructure. Phase B - Backfilling: Once aggregate has been laid, a roller is used to compress the back-filled material. Testing the batter: In earthworks, a `batter’ is where an excavated face is cut back to a pre-determined slope to ensure stability.