Western Belfast Bypass progress

The Western Belfast Bypass, a four-lane, 5-kilometre stretch of highway north of the city, was 80 per cent completed, the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) said.

“Over 375,000 hours have been worked on this project so far and it is progressing well as this drone footage shows,” Christchurch highways manager Colin Knaggs said.

 The $122 million Western Belfast Bypass project is set to be completed in early 2018. NZTA says it is now 80 per cent complete.

 The newest aerial footage of the $122-million project shows a 2km-long section that was largely out of public view during construction, Knaggs said.

“Aside from some road marking and other minor finishing touches, this section of the project is also close to being finished.”

 The Dickeys Rd bridge under construction, as part of the Western Belfast Bypass programme.

 Construction crews recently focused on three new bridges – over Groynes Dr, Dickeys Rd and an on-ramp that links Main North Rd and SH1 – which Knaggs said were close to completion.

“Before the project team could start building they had to carry out ground improvement work, constructing around 2400 columns of gravel and stone into the ground to make it denser,” he said.

“This reduces the effects of liquefaction and ensures the bridge embankments remain stable, preventing damage to the bridge structures during an earthquake.”

A further 30 steel-cased concrete piles, up to 20 metres deep, support each structure.

Once completed, in early 2018, NZTA forecast 24000 cars will use the bypass every day.

 – Stuff