24 beams were successfully lifted into place across the final two spans of the North Island Main Trunk Railway bridge overnight on Wednesday 3 and Thursday 4 February as part of the NZ Transport Agency’s SH20-1 Manukau Extension project.
24 beams were successfully lifted into place across the final two spans of the North Island Main Trunk Railway bridge overnight on Wednesday 3 and Thursday 4 February as part of the NZ Transport Agency’s SH20-1 Manukau Extension project.
Contractors worked through the night to lift the concrete beams onto the bridge with a 300 tonne crane. In total over 800 tonnes of reinforced concrete beam was installed over the two nights. The work was co-ordinated with KiwiRail to ensure that rail services were not disrupted.
“This milestone shows the progress that has been made on this bridge which is the largest of twelve bridges on the project. It’s a significant step towards completion of the new motorway which will provide a vital connection between SH1 at Manukau and the Auckland International Airport,” says the NZTA’s State Highways Manager for Auckland and Northland Tommy Parker.
The bridge is 120 metres long with six spans which carry the SH20 motorway over the main trunk rail line. The next stage of work is to pour the concrete decks for the bridge and install a further 60 barriers to the structure.
Also as part of the project, earthworks are being carried out for the Manukau Rail Link which will connect Manukau City Centre with the main trunk line by the motorway bridge.
The $210M Manukau Extension motorway project is in its final year of construction and is scheduled to be completed in August. The new 4.5 kilometre motorway will have two lanes in each direction and connects the Southern and Southwestern motorways. The new motorway will also bring considerable relief to local roads within the Manukau City Centre area, such as Wiri Station Road and Great South Road.
The motorway will form the southern end of the Western Ring Route – a 48 kilometre alternative to SH1 between Manukau and Albany via SH20, SH16 and SH18. Projects at Mangere Bridge, Mt Roskill and Waterview form the remainder of the SH20 link.
The NZ Transport Agency thanks motorists for their patience and co-operation while construction takes place.
For more information, phone 0800 SH20-2-1 (0800 742 021) or visit www.nzta.govt.nz/projects/manukauextension(external link)
