Friday 1 November 2013

McCormacks Bay Causeway reopened today

Another milestone in the Christchurch rebuild was met today when Mayor of Christchurch Lianne Dalziel, reopened the McCormacks Bay Causeway in Mt Pleasant to all traffic, allowing Redcliffs and Sumner residents to take the shorter and straight route home again.

"This is another major step forward in the rebuilding of Christchurch. The residents of Redcliffs and Sumner have had to endure daily detours on this route, and now they can look forward to less time in traffic and more time with their families," Lianne Dalziel says.

"I want to thank the residents for their patience and the contractors for their hard work in completing this project on time. This is another milestone met on the list of infrastructure rebuild projects for the city."

Following its closure for repairs due to earthquake damage, the Stronger Christchurch Infrastructure Rebuild Team (SCIRT) contractors started repair work on the damaged culverts, seawall and road surface in late April this year.

Due to the nature of works the causeway was closed to all traffic for six months and despite the heavy rain weather conditions in June and the design change during construction the SCIRT team managed to complete the project within the set deadline of 1 November.

Contractors had to demolish the original earthquake damaged culverts and replace them, whilst also building a new bridge over the existing main culvert. Then the seawall was repaired and rebuilt and the Causeway road reconstructed and resurfaced.

"Delivering infrastructure rebuild projects on time is what our residents want to see and we will be working closely with all the rebuild agencies and contractors to ensure this happens," Lianne Dalziel says.

As part of this and other SCIRT projects contractors will carry out work to form the section of the Coastal Pathway running from Scott Park at the foot of St Andrews Hill to the eastern end of the causeway. The first basic part of the four metre wide sealed pathway has been incorporated in the finished Causeway project, as well as the construction of three tidal stairs down to the estuary.

Close by, the Ferrymead Bridge replacement project progressing well. This bridge is on a critical 'Life-line' for the city and as well as being a critical transport route, it carries communication cables, Power cables, sewer and water supplies. Approximate completion date Early May 2015.

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