It may look like people drilling holes and digging pits, but the activity at Bayfair is actually the beginning of the geotechnical testing of the Maunganui-Girven Roads roundabout.
The testing of the soils and substrata in the busy intersection's immediate environs is expected to take about two weeks, says NZTA acting Tauranga state highway manager Richard Young.
Bayfair roundabout.
Soil samples will be collected and tested for a range of properties including soil strength.
'Determining local ground conditions is an important part of evaluating the type of construction a road or structure may require if a particular solution is chosen as the preferred option,” says Richard.
'People can expect to see drilling rigs and plant along Maunganui Road, and at the entrance to each leg of the roundabout, over the next couple of weeks.
'There will be some testing carried out within the carriageway, requiring brief lane closures, however, this will be carried out during off-peak periods to minimise disruption to the traffic.
'Testing will only be undertaken where the NZTA has reached agreement with the land owner(s) for access.”
The Bayfair roundabout is one of the busiest in Tauranga carrying more than 35,000 vehicles per day including 2200 heavy commercial vehicles. The roundabout frequently delays road users.
The geotechnical study will provide the groundwork for future consideration of several options for the intersection.
Each option will be reviewed for factors such its effect on traffic flow and safety, and any design and environmental constraints it might have.
Once the NZTA has identified the preferred solution and determined its estimated cost, the project will be prioritised for design and construction funding through the Regional Land Transport Programme.
6 comments
How did they do it?
Posted on 23-06-2011 10:58 | By SpeakUp
.
How did they do it?
Posted on 23-06-2011 11:11 | By SpeakUp
How did the Romans build roads that still exist 2000 years later? How were still existing 'Autobahns' build, without ANY geotechnical consultancy but supporting trucks/tanks rolling into war? How have we lived before 'consultants' had their job created in collusion with pen-pushing wasters of the public purse? If we had the funds, I wouldn't balk, but we finance these shenanigans with extremely expensive debt. Looks all like a darn gravy-train to me.
Posted on 23-06-2011 15:42 | By Bill Gibson-Patmore
Come on "Speak Up"..... Name a Roman Road built on a sandy swamp that could carry 25,000 vehicles a day, with so many of them heavier than the average chariot. I fir one wouldn't want to see construction without planning and investigation. There are so many negative grizzlers around here. Damn know it alls! Bill
Roundabout options
Posted on 23-06-2011 16:25 | By Pamax
Would the NZTA like to share their options with the driving public? Many of us don't have the time or opportunity to attend public hearings and this project certainly has a high public interest. So what about it guys, show us what you are thinking. I am sure SunLive will give your reply some editorial space. Max Lewis, Mt Maunganui.
NO LIGHTS
Posted on 23-06-2011 19:07 | By Capt_Kaveman
the roundabout works fine fix the drivers its bad enough with the lights in Tauranga and we dont want those unpredictable things in the MT even though we have 2 all ready i must admit the Papamoa lights work fine and the Brookfield roundabouts work good when the lights are out but pretty much all the lights in TGA are rubbish and very much need re programmed
Here we go again....
Posted on 23-06-2011 19:49 | By Vaughn
Once again we let the pen pushers have another go at trying to fix what ain`t broken. It`s quite manageable other than at rush hour! But that applies to a lot more intersections than just this one. Least get the "waste the tax payers money brigade" out to draw up a solution like they did for the new domain road circus of an idea!
Leave a Comment
You must be logged in to make a comment.