Rā Hihi is rising

Site engineer Neha Raphael (above) set out to study psychology and is now involved in building Rā Hihi (flyover) above Reeves Road. Neha and Senior Project Engineer Max van der Maas show us here the impressive structure taking shape in east Auckland. 

The first of 136 horizontal ‘super T’ beams of Rā Hihi have been installed and the final road surface will sit on top of them when the structure is completed. Each beam weighs an average of 70 tonnes, is 1.8m deep and is brought from West Auckland to Pakūranga on a large transporter vehicle at night when there is less traffic. Once the beam is on site, it takes about an hour for two cranes to lift it into place.

South Eastern Highway changes

During an upcoming weekend, there will be fewer lanes open on the South Eastern Highway between Waipuna Bridge and Tī Rākau Drive near Pakūranga. Please use another route while the lane reductions are in place and expect delays on the highway.

Pakūranga town centre businesses will be open and access to them will be available from Pakūranga Road, Tī Rākau Drive and Cortina Place.

The weekend work dates will be advertised on electronic signboards, radio and social media when they have been confirmed.

Planet power

Reducing the project’s environmental impact is taking place in a number of ways:

Two solar powered site buildings have been installed for use during construction work in Botany, and the team has procured 1,000 litres of hydrotreated vegetable oil for our crane operations. These two initiatives have helped to reduce carbon emissions by 18 tonnes between June and August.

A large volume of 4,500 m³ of hydro excavated sludge has been diverted from landfill. That’s equivalent to 239 trucks and trailers full of waste that has instead been recycled and converted into aggregate and sand.

So far 1500 m³ of low carbon concrete has been poured, resulting in a reduction of 164 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions in our embodied carbon - that’s the carbon footprint of an infrastructure project before it becomes operational.

We’re also recycling clothing including hardhats and safety glasses. They’re being repurposed into products like plastic fence posts, home insulation and pet beds. 

Working during the night and at weekends

Sometimes we work during the night and at weekends and we appreciate our neighbours’ patience while this takes place. Providers ensure that bill payers are notified in advance when utilities like water, gas and electricity need to be turned off. Please contact us if you have any questions or issues about our work or utility service disruption.

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