Wellington., 3 September, 2013, - A team effort to reopen the Manawatu Gorge Slip, following the largest road landslip in New Zealand history, has won the Medium Road Project at this year’s Roading New Zealand Excellence Awards.
The New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA), MWH Global, Higgins Contractors and BBO responded to the emergency caused by a large slip closing the Manawatu Gorge section of State Highway 3 on 18 August 2011. Two months later this vital transport link had another destructive landslide in the same spot.
The team overcame significant challenges in a complex situation. Safety and cost were balanced with the need to quickly reopen the road for the public, while also providing the best alternative routes.
Mike Skelton, Local Transportation Group Manager, MWH Global said, “We cleared the slip and rebuilt the road as quickly as possible. Getting the traffic back through the Gorge was vital in order to achieve our overall objective of allowing residents in the affected communities to ‘get their lives back’. Throughout the 13 months of the project one of our top priorities was ensuring safe travel on alternative routes and through the Gorge whilst keeping the public fully informed of progress.”
The Manawatu Gorge section of State Highway 3 is one of the most difficult roads in New Zealand to maintain. The narrow road is cut into the Southern side of the Gorge and is perched 20 metres above the Manawatu level.
“I am delighted that the team’s efforts have been recognised,” said Mark Martin, Group Maintenance Engineer, Higgins Contractors. “Working round the clock seven days a week in difficult winter conditions allowed the road to be opened four months ahead of schedule. What’s more, the Gorge has been hit by heavy rainfall a number of times since and there have been no further slips.”
The completion of the project in November 2012 was summed up by David McGonigal, NZTA State Highways Regional Manager, who says the team did a great job under pressure. “The crew have stuck at the task for a long time, and they can now reflect on a job well done. They’ve rebuilt an entirely new piece of highway in a superbly orchestrated blur of activity, and words can’t express the value of their hard work for the Manawatu region and beyond. Every cliché about true grit and Kiwi ‘number eight wire’ ingenuity comes to mind, but at the end of the day, they had a job to do – a huge job - and they did it.”
Throughout the project the team ensured the native environment was protected and also constructed a forest lookout at the top of the slip for the community to enjoy.
For an interview with Mike Skelton, MWH Local Transportation Group Manager contact Lorna Milton, MWH External Communications Manager on +64 (0)27 512 6322
About MWH Global
MWH Global is a strategic consulting, technical engineering, environmental and construction services firm leading the wet infrastructure sector. Offering a full range of services and innovative, award-winning solutions beginning in the initial planning phases through construction and asset management, we partner with our clients in multiple industries to implement projects and programs that focus on water, energy, natural resources and infrastructure. Our nearly 8,000 employees in 35 countries spanning six continents are dedicated to fulfilling our purpose of Building a Better World, which reflects our commitment to sustainable development. MWH is a private, employee-owned firm with a rich legacy beginning in 1820. For more information, visit our website at www.mwhglobal.com or connect with us on Twitter and Facebook.
