4 | REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Fulton Hogan: Te Ara Ihutai Christchurch Coastal Pathway T T Karen Phelps Penguins hasten pathway completion About 200 metres of the pathway, between the Christchurch Yacht Club boatsheds and Shag Rock, are cantilevered out over the AvonHeathcote Estuary. “Outside of those months was our construction window and we doubled our resource for four months to complete any significant works within the penguin habitat area.” Due to some feathered friends taking up residence earlier than expected, a section of the Te Ara Ihutai Christchurch Coastal Pathway has had to be completed in a shorter timeframe than initially anticipated, says Fulton Hogan project manager Kieran Davis. The white-flippered penguins were predicted to begin their moulting and breeding season from mid-November but moved in around August effectively reducing the construction timeframe to just four months. An ecologist monitored the penguin burrows and Fulton Hogan had to ensure noise was kept to a certain decibel rating and set backs instigated to avoid disturbing them. This saw Fulton Hogan significantly re-programme to reduce construction activity during that time and bring in additional resource outside the moulting and breeding season to deliver the project by the required timeframe. At peak Fulton Hogan has had a team of over 40 staff on site. “Outside of those months was our construction window and we doubled our resource for four months to complete any significant works within the penguin habitat area,” explains Kieran. “Quieter finishing works like balustrade installation was done in the breeding and moulting season. It shows our ability to be flexible and work with clients and subcontractors to meet project requirements.” With about 200 metres of the pathway, between the Christchurch Yacht Club boatsheds and Shag Rock, cantilevered out over the Avon-Heathcote Estuary because the road space was limited in that area, Kieran says collaboration has been a key part of successfully delivering the project. Fulton Hogan has worked alongside the client and subcontractor on the design of the cantilevered path foundation. Other challenges included working alongside a narrow roadway while ensuring traffic to Sumner kept flowing. The project included digging back into the road in parts and the water, wastewater and Orion network were renewed before work could commence on the cantilevered path section. Fulton Hogan has also restored a WWII pillbox, which had previously been covered and made into a seat. The Te Ara Ihutai Christchurch Coastal Pathway will run from Ferrymead to Scarborough Beach, Sumner, providing new seaside access for cyclists, pedestrians and other path users. The section Fulton Hogan is working in spans 885 metres, is four metres wide and consists of a -220 metre long cantilevered pathway and -530 metre long asphalt section, the majority of which is supported by a rock retaining wall. Construction also included a new 13-metre timber bridge spanning Rifle Range Drain. The project is using about 6,000 tonnes of locally sourced rock, including rock collected from Sumner Road following extensive damage in the 2010-11 Christchurch earthquakes. At present, as the project nears completion, Fulton Hogan is currently finishing off the cantilevered path section, magnum stone wall and shared path along with the final parts of balustrading. Remaining surfacing of the shared path has just been completed. Kieran says the plan is to open the estuary side path to the public in late October/early November, which will allow Fulton Hogan to finish all the works on the opposite side of the road. Completion date is end of January 2024 and Kieran says Fulton Hogan is on track to deliver the project by the deadline.
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