Sunday 22 June 2008 saw the final section of rail line laid on this 1 km long deviation around the narrow Kai Iwi tunnel near Wanganui!
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Pictured: Aerial view of the newly commissioned rail deviation around the Kai Iwi Tunnel in South Taranaki. |
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For Tonkin & Taylor’s Wellington team the project is the culmination of four years work. T&T's specialist inputs included consultation, obtaining planning consents, undertaking site investigations, design and construction monitoring.
The final design resulted in some 327,000 m³ of earth being excavated to form a 300 m long, 40 m high cutting, formation of rail embankment and associated drainage works, stream erosion protection works and stock overpass bridge. For ONTRACK the Kai Iwi deviation is a major step forward in making rail more competitive for the movement of containerised goods out of the Taranaki region.
The tunnel bypass was officially opened on 20 June 2008 by Harry Duynhoven, Minister of Transport Safety, Walter Rushbrook, ONTRACK's Acting GM, Engineering and Mark Gullery, ONTRACK's Central Regional Manager. The line was opened to trains on 22 June.
Robin Scott, T&T’s Project Manager for the Bypass, commented that the project was a huge success, completed on time and within budget constraints. “Achieving such a positive outcome was possible, in part, because of the very good working relationship developed between the main project team and wider stakeholders” he said.
For more information please contact Robin Scott. |
