gency australia the existing Tamahere interchange and runs for 16km , ending just south of Cambridge where it connects with the existing SH1 .
Rangiriri section – Fletcher Construction The Rangiriri section is also currently under construction . Work on this 4.8km project is scheduled for completion in 2016 . The estimated cost of this section is $ 106 million ; Fletcher Construction is the main contractor .
When complete , the section will connect the Longswamp and Ohinewai sections of the Expressway and improve connectivity between Auckland and Huntly and further south . The project is being delivered using an Early Contractor Involvement model ( ECI ), which allows for the contractor to be involved in the design phase and ensures designs developed are robust , constructible and are appropriately staged .
During the last summer season , more than 75,000 cubic metres of earth was moved each month . Like the other sections of the Waikato Expressway , bridges are a large part of the construction work . Current efforts on the project include stabilised earth-retaining walls at the interchange bridges and structural work at the Rangiriri bridge . The Expressway route is away from the current SH1 alignment which cuts through the historic Rangiriri village – scene of a fierce battle between Maori and colonial troops in 1863 .
“ The Rangiriri project has provided plenty of challenges ,” said Peter Murphy , the Transport Agency ’ s project manager for this
“ We ’ ve established a haul road along the site , closed some roads , put up temporary traffic signals , created a diversion road , and moved a lot of earth … and right through it all the people have been wonderful .”
www . nzta . govt . nz / projects / waikato-expressway / 317