Work on State Highway 1 through Dome Valley is progressing, despite the challenges presented by the Omicron outbreak, an NZTA spokesperson says.
Widening of the southbound shoulder has started and there is 200 metres of kerb and pipes still to be installed between Waitaraire Stream and Falls Bridge.
“Once these construction activities have been completed, chipseal surfacing and line-marking will be carried out. Stage 3 will be complete once wire safety barriers have been installed,” the spokesperson says.
Stage 5 will include a soil nail wall – a retaining wall reinforced by grouted, tension resisting steel nails. This is located about 250 metres south of the Dome Valley Lookout and is due to be completed this month. Soil nail walls are used to stabilise natural soil slopes, which is important for a route like Dome Valley, which is surrounded by high hilltops.
The Dome Valley project is part of the Government’s Road to Zero Programme aimed at preventing people from dying or being seriously injured on high-risk state highways and local roads.
“With more than 10,000 vehicles travelling through the Dome on any given day, it’s critical that we make it safe as soon as possible and we are making good progress.”
A quick look at the figures so far:
• 15 retaining walls have been full constructed
• 17 out of 18 soil nail walls have been fully constructed, with more than 2000 individual soil nails blasted into the rock wall
• More than 10,000 locally sourced native plants have been planted, including supporting several local restoration projects
• A total of 2896 metres of safety wire barrier has been installed
