NZTA advisory

Kia ora koutou, and welcome to the first newsletter for the Second Ashburton Bridge (2AB) project.

You can also find this newsletter on NZTA's website, and if you want to receive future newsletters by email you can sign up here.

You may also see information about the project in local and social media and at community events as we progress.

What’s happening?

We’re underway with ground investigations for the design of the 2AB. We’ve completed testing in existing roads and paddocks in the area.

From 4 June, for about six weeks, you'll see us working in and around the Ashburton River/Hakatere as we investigate the ground conditions to help with the design of the 2AB.

We’ll be drilling about 20 boreholes, about 85mm in diameter and up to 30 metres deep.

The boreholes will be drilled at the proposed pier and embankment locations within the riverbed, using a machine drilling rig which is about the size of a small truck.

We’ll start working on the Ashburton side of the river off the end of Chalmers Avenue and until about 9 June will be working near the walking and bike tracks. Once we're finished on that side of the river, we'll move to the Carter Terrace side and finish the remaining boreholes.

Access along the tracks will be unaffected, although there could be slight deviations and delays while we move the drill rig between test locations. As our work progresses, the drilling will move further away from the tracks and the noise will be less audible.

Each borehole will take around 1 day and include setting up, drilling and backfilling.

From these geotechnical tests we’ll learn what the ground is like beneath the surface, for example how difficult it is to drill into the ground, water levels and other geographical information. This information will help us to design the foundations to support the new bridge and earth embankments.

We’ll be working on weekdays from 7am to 5pm (drilling 8am to 4pm with an hour either side for set up/pack up). Our work is subject to weather conditions.

The project has been prioritised for delivery as a Road of Regional Significance (RoRS).

For more information on the Second Ashburton Bridge project, contact us at 2AB@nzta.govt.nz or visit our website www.nzta.govt.nz/2AB