Updates

To complete the bridge, we need to install four 914mm diameter piles to depths of around 50m below ground level for the bridge to be supported off.

When installing these piles, a combination of large vibration and drop hammers are used to penetrate the pile into the ground. The vibration hammer can be used for most of the driving, but at isolated times when a hard ground layer is encountered, the drop hammer needs to be used.

The use of this drop hammer is the loud banging that has been occurring in the area since works started in November. It involves dropping a nine-tonne weight from a height of approximately 1m every 2-3 seconds to physically push the pile into the ground. Unfortunately, this is the only method for driving the piles through the hard layers and there is no option of using sound protection around the hammer due to it being supported from a crane.

To date we have installed two of the permanent piles to depth on the Tui Glen side of the project. In January and February 2025, we will continue to install the remaining two piles on the Heartwood Ave side which will involve more use of the drop hammer. Through this period no pile driving will be done prior to 8am and the drop hammer will only be used when absolutely necessary.

The piles are expected to be fully installed by the end of February 2025.

Construction of the bridge started today, following a site blessing and meeting with an archaeologist, who showed us what items we should look out for while excavating the site. If there are any interesting finds, we'll let you know!