A simple solution has been developed by the McConnell Dowell and Built Environs joint venture, on the Puhinui Station Interchange project alongside Auckland Transport, KiwiRail, and NZTA. The solution is a rail protection shield that allows the project team to work safely in the island platform and lift materials over live train tracks and electrified lines. This rail protection shield is changing the way the rail industry view safety and construction in New Zealand.

The joint ventures inhouse Temporary Works Design team developed the ‘Rail Protection Shield’ from a concept originating with Inovo Projects and Auckland Transport. The protection shield mitigates the risk of lifting heavy loads across the tracks into the centre of the operational rail corridor without the need of a Block of Line or shutting down the power for the electrified lines.

“The rail protection deck is a unique safety structure that has never been done before in New Zealand and has set precedent for alternative protection measures… when it comes to rail safety,” says Bryce Ongley, KiwiRail National Corridor Permit Manager.

It is a steel and wood platform that spans the track and forms a safety barrier between tonnes of steel and concrete and the 25,000kv live wires. Construction work that had previously been scheduled for small windows when trains weren’t running, can now also be done at any time of the day without disruption to passenger services.

Ongley goes on to say “… when I speak to people about the reduction in time available to contractors to complete works in the rail corridor; I point out the rail protection shield as an example to show what clever innovation and consultation with stakeholders can achieve.”

Auckland Transport’s Portfolio Delivery Director (projects), David Nelson, says collaboration on this project has been key, “collaborative, early partnerships with contractors pay dividends, and Puhinui is a great example of that.”

The Puhinui Interchange is a key component of the Southwest Gateway, a programme aimed at enhancing transport connectivity between the region’s central business district and Auckland International Airport; including south and east Auckland. It is also a catalyst for wider bus and rail connections to enable more sustainable transport modes. 

To learn more about the project click here

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency held an official event to mark the start of construction for the Old Māngere Bridge project at the Waterfront Reserve on Friday 22 November.

Representatives from the Transport Agency, McConnell Dowell, Te Ākitai Waiohua, local politicians, Police, walking and cycling advocates and members of the community gathered to celebrate the start of work.

The speakers all acknowledged the close relationships that have developed, the shared journey everyone has been on and the pleasure of reaching this milestone.

Fraser Wyllie, Managing Director of McConnell Dowell’s New Zealand and Pacific business noted “it was great to see so many people passionate about improving infrastructure in their communities and we are proud to be helping deliver such a striking new bridge for them.”

Caring for the harbour, the environment and people during construction was also a shared theme. “Being good stewards of the Manukau Harbour, keeping everyone safe and being valued members of the local neighbourhood is important to the team,” says Project Manager Phil Kearney.

McConnell Dowell would like to invite the community down to Waterfront Reserve on Saturday 30 November, from 10am to noon to meet the team. “We will be there to answer questions and tell people about the upcoming work like the deconstruction of the old bridge which starts in early 2020. Bring the family and come down for a sausage, a chat and some entertainment for the kids.

The replacement bridge will be a critical community connection and an additional link in Auckland’s walking and cycling network when it is completed in early 2022. 

Caption: (left to right) Fraser Wyllie, Managing Director of McConnell Dowell New Zealand and Pacific, Alf Filipaina Manukau ward councillor, Hon Aupito William Sio MP for Māngere, Local Board representative Josephine Bartley and Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency Director Regional Relationships Upper North Island Steve Mutton marked the start of the new bridge project.

For more from the event click here: https://www.nzta.govt.nz/media-releases/construction-starts-on-the-old-mangere-bridge-replacement-project/

Find out more about the project  https://www.nzta.govt.nz/projects/old-mangere-bridge-replacement-project/

Or sign up for regular project updates: https://www.nzta.govt.nz/projects/old-mangere-bridge-replacement-project/

McConnell Dowell is pleased to announce the award of the St Marys Bay and Masefield Beach Water Quality Improvement Project by Auckland Council’s Healthy Waters department.

This project continues to build on McConnell Dowell’s extensive experience constructing ocean outfalls. Our award-winning trenchless technology reduces the amount of trenching required in the landward section and disruption to nearby stakeholders.

It also minimises impacts for people travelling through the area – important considerations in confined residential environments and Auckland’s busy transport network.

The St Marys Bay and Masefield Beach Water Quality Improvement Project is one of the first and largest Water Quality Targeted Rate funded projects to get underway in Auckland and will reduce the number of overflows from an average of 100 a year to an average of 20.

McConnell Dowell Managing Director for New Zealand and the Pacific Islands, Fraser Wyllie says that “McConnell Dowell has considerable expertise in this area having constructed all of the largest marine outfalls in New Zealand. We are proud to be able to help improve water quality in our harbours and beaches and help provide a better life to communities. “

The work will involve:

• Installing almost two kilometres of new pipeline
• Only 25% will be installed using traditional dig and lay methods
• Over 50% of the alignment will be tunnelled (1120m) using a brand new Herrneknecht TBM
• And 1.8m ID reinforced concrete pipes will be jacked into place
• The final 25% of pipeline will be constructed from HDPE and will form the outfall which will be joined in Kaiaua then towed to the city before it is lowered into place on the seabed in a controlled sink

Construction will commence in January 2020 and is scheduled to be completed by late 2021.

The first major milestone was reached on the Puhinui Station Upgrade recently with the successful deconstruction of the central station ramp during a rail closure recently. The joint venture between McConnell Dowell and Built Environs has developed an early works strategy for the Puhinui Train Station Upgrade project with safety at the core of the construction. This is imperative as a large portion of work needs to be carried out over the live tracks and around the electrified lines in the rail corridor.
 

 
  
All together 350 tonnes of concrete were also removed during the controlled demolition stage which was finished in mid-October 2019.

The first requirement for this stage of the work was to support the three footbridge ramps that lead to the overbridge and train station. Scaffolding was erected to support these segments before each were cut using a wire saw and carefully removed over the tracks during a ‘Rail Block of Lines’ or track closure.

The project team continue to remove all the existing platform assets to clear the way for the next stage of the construction and have begun piling the station’s foundations.

A 50-tonne drilling rig is installing 32 bored piles, some over 30m deep, to form the foundation for 23 pile caps to support the station structure.

The next milestone for the team is the installation of a protection shield over the track. The shield is an innovative new methodology to maintain safe access and egress for staff in and out of the rail corridor, allowing allow work to continue safely without delay or disruption to rail operations.

For more information about the Puhinui Station Interchange please visit: https://at.govt.nz/projects-roadworks/airport-to-botany-rapid-transit/puhinui-station-interchange/ or https://www.mcconnelldowell.com/news/bringing-together-world-class-expertise-for-the-puhinui-interchange?highlight=WyJwdWhpbnVpIl0