Waikato Expressway Project – NZ Transport A
section . “ We are constructing a new expressway through an area of national historic and cultural significance . Working with a good team and taking the time to thoroughly engage with all our stakeholders will reward us with a project that we can all be proud of .”
Other challenges have included poor ground conditions and the quality of natural materials . The project crosses some very lowlying areas near the Waikato River . Significant ground improvement was required in order to support the embankment . The soils are of a very poor nature , and have been quite challenging for the contractors to work with .
Fletcher Construction Fletcher Construction is the main contractor on the Rangiriri section of the Waikato Expressway project , and was the main contractor on the Ngaruawahia section , which opened last December . The Rangiriri project is currently 18 months into a 42-month contract .
All site enabling , ground improvement - including wick drains and stone columns , gully undercut , cross carriageway drainage and structural foundations - are complete . The end of 2014 and beginning of 2015 will be a large earthworks season .
“ The earthworks season in the Waikato , as a general rule of thumb , is 100 working days due to the wet weather and conditions needing to be amenable for drying fill back to optimum moisture . The upcoming season is being elongated with the
“ The Rangiriri project has provided plenty of challenges .”– Rangiriri Project Manager Peter Murphy . “ We are constructing a new Expressway through an area of national historic and cultural significance . Working with a good team and taking the time to thoroughly engage with all our stakeholders will reward us with a project that we can all be proud of .”
318 September 2014