News & Media Releases
Geotechnical investigations kick off Cambridge Bypass design
3 May 2007
Geotechnical investigations began this week to provide information for the design of the State Highway 1 Cambridge Bypass.
The start of geotechnical investigations was celebrated today by Transit New Zealand and the Waipa District Council as an exciting first step towards the design of the bypass, which will provide certainty for all Cambridge residents and stakeholders regarding the specifics of the bypass route and its subsequent effects on the future development of Cambridge.
Transit recently awarded the design contract for the Cambridge Bypass to Opus International Consultants Ltd, and the geotechnical investigation of the already designated bypass route will provide vital information to aid with the design.
Transit regional manager Chris Allen says understanding the geology of the area will provide a robust start for the design of the Cambridge Bypass by identifying the underground conditions that will influence the potential design and construction of road pavement and any required bridge foundations, embankments and road cuttings.
Over the next month engineers will be drilling boreholes up to 40 metres deep to examine the soils. They will also be digging test pits to look more closely at the near-surface soils and will be taking soil samples for laboratory testing.
Mr Allen says, “The lab testing will help us determine the water content, strength, compressibility and suitability of the soils to be used in earthworks. One particular challenge is where the bypass crosses the Karapiro Stream gully, as the gully is about 30 metres deep and 200 metres wide, with very steep slopes.”
Transit is working closely with Waipa District Council to progress the design of the bypass, and will be initiating the consultation process with Cambridge residents and stakeholders within the next six weeks.
Waipa Mayor Alan Livingston is very pleased with the progress made.
“The start to work on this section of the Waikato Expressway is a tremendous milestone for Cambridge. We are very grateful to the Waikato Land Transport Committee and Transit for acknowledging the need to progress the bypass and giving it the high priority they have”.
The SH1 Cambridge Bypass is the southernmost section of the Waikato Expressway, which is the key strategic transport corridor for the Waikato region.
The full design process for the Cambridge Bypass is expected to take two years, subject to resource consents.
For more information please contact:
Chris Allen
Regional Manager
Transit New Zealand
07 903 5104 / 027 292 8072
Or
Julie Hannam
Communications Advisor
Transit New Zealand
Hamilton Regional Office
07 903 5146 / 027 294 2649
All rights reserved. Copyright © 2006.