News & Media Releases

Another Bypass Milestone Reached with Marathon Concrete Pour

13 June 2008

Hamilton’s State Highway 1 Avalon Drive Bypass project reached another major milestone this week when approximately 700 cubic metres of concrete was poured to form the deck of the new Norton Road rail bridge.

Transit New Zealand contractors were literally on deck at 3am on Wednesday morning to begin the marathon 12-hour concrete pour for the rail bridge deck, which comprises of a large heavily reinforced concrete slab 1.5 metres thick, 19 metres wide and approximately 26 metres in length.

Once the new rail bridge is constructed, Norton Road will be lowered to pass under the rail bridge and will be connected to the new Rifle Range Road Roundabout, which is currently being constructed at the intersection of Lincoln Street and Rifle Range Road. Excavation below the bridge deck is expected to begin in late July to enable Norton Road to pass underneath it.

In the meantime, construction is continuing for the new Rifle Range Road Roundabout. Southbound Lincoln Street traffic (heading to Frankton) was shifted onto the new roundabout several weeks ago and northbound Lincoln Street traffic (heading to Te Rapa) was shifted on Monday. Traffic will be able to circulate the roundabout by the end of this week, and right turning, towards Frankton, is now possible from Rifle Range Road into Lincoln Street.

Transit central region capital projects manager Nigel D’Ath says the connections between Rifle Range Road and the new roundabout will not be fully completed until the end of June and a temporary speed restriction is likely to be in place until then. Some lane restrictions will also be in place, and motorists are advised to watch for road signs.

Mr D’Ath says, “Transit would like to thank the travelling public and local businesses in Railside Place and Rifle Range Road for their support and patience during the construction of the Rifle Range Road Roundabout. We are extremely pleased with the progress on site and are looking forward to the completion of the new roundabout later this month.”

 

For more information please contact:

Nigel D’Ath
Central Region Capital Projects Manager
Transit New Zealand
Hamilton Regional Office
027 277 6304

or

Julie Hannam
Communications Advisor
Transit New Zealand
Hamilton Regional Office
07 903 5146/ 027 294 2649

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