Infrastructure - Victoria Park Tunnel
< Back Tuesday, 7 September 2010Firth unplugs the bottleneck
Over the last 10 years the bottleneck between the Auckland
Harbour Bridge and the Newmarket Viaduct has slowly become worse
and worse. So it is with some relief that motorists are seeing the
450 metre-long Victoria Park Tunnel project get underway.
Firth Industries Ltd has been contracted as the concrete supplier
on the new $340 million tunnel. The tunnel will take three
northbound traffic lanes while the existing Victoria Park viaduct
will be reconfigured to carry four southbound lanes. Through
St Marys Bay the motorway is being widened by one lane in each
direction to 10 lanes plus a citybound bus-only lane.
"This is a substantial job for Firth and we are delighted to be
supplying concrete for this important roading project for
Auckland," says Gavin Allden Northern Regional Sales Manager for
Firth Industries.
"We are very well placed geographically to supply to the project
as our Hamer Street, Westhaven plant is the only Certified concrete
plant in downtown Auckland, and is situated within walking distance
of the site," he says. "The close proximity of our plant to the
project site means we are easily able to meet the demands of the
job at any time of the day and night without having to worry about
travelling delays and adding to congestion, which is a huge plus."
Firth has been supplying mixes since construction of the
'cut-and-cover' tunnel began in April. This construction method
involves building the tunnel walls first, followed by installation
roof beams, excavation of the tunnel trench and, finally, pouring
the 800mm thick floor slabs. Firth is also the supplier to the
Fletcher's pre-cast yard in Tauranga where the tunnel's 176
30-tonne roof beams are being made. The other 190 beams are being
made by HEB Pre-Cast.
More than half of the 2000 concrete piles required for the tunnel
walls and retaining walls on the tunnel approach and exit had been
completed by the end of August.
The majority of the concrete work is expected to be completed by
late 2011 with the new motorway opening in 2012. An event that will
certainly be looked forward to by Auckland motorists.