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2 weeks over Christmas/New Year December 2022 – January 2023
Kiwi Rail engaged MBD Contracting to undertake the rehabilitation of the Hinau Straight between 48.35km and 49.10km on the Stillwater-Ngakawau Line (SNL), West Coast. The rail formation in this section had a series of compounding structural and hydraulic issues which due to repeated dynamic loading had resulted in severe mud spots. Site works involved the removal of 700m of rail track and sleepers, then a complete excavation and rebuilding of the formation over 700m including the excavation of 1.05m of the soft subgrade material, preparation of the subgrade surface, placement of 3 layers of geogrid, geotextile and structural fill followed by a layer of sub-ballast AP40 fill material, placement of railway ballast, reinstatement of the railway track and general site restoration.
Stringent pre-planning and co-ordination by management were required to ensure there was sufficient lead in time for organizing all resources for this job. This included ordering the large amounts of geogrid and geotextiles well in advance and ensuring their timely delivery to the site. Additionally, the large quantities of gravels and ballast materials needed for the project were produced and carted to the site beforehand.
The construction work was finished during the scheduled line shutdown over the 2022-2023 Christmas and New Year period. Starting on Boxing Day, the project was completed by January 4th, well within the two-week timeframe allocated.
The project was successfully completed without any health and safety issues or incidents. Our team’s adherence to safety protocols and meticulous execution were instrumental in this achievement. As a result, we received high praise from the client, who commended us for our exceptional effort and professionalism throughout the project.
