Reopening of SH1 in New Zealand

22 December 2017 - Events - New-Zealand

After one year of closing following the earthquake that hit New-Zealand in November 2016, the new coastal State Highway 1, north and south of Kaikoura, opened on December 15, 2017.

In total, more than 200 areas along SH1 were affected by the earthquake, which was covered by about 700,000 cubic metres (about 280 Olympic-size swimming pools) of loose material dislodged.

HEB Construction (VINCI Construction International Network) took part into the repair of the road as part of the NCTIR alliance, established in December 2016 to undertake the permanent repairs to road and rail infrastructure around Kaikoura following the earthquake. The alliance, including NZTA, KiwiRail, HEB Construction, Fulton Hogan, Higgins and Downer operated in a very specific environment, as works streched around New Zealand’s famous Fur Seal Sanctuary. A protection plan, including moving pups and adult seals by helicopters, was set.

The teams worked day and night to achieve the objective to open the road before the festive season.