Rail

In 2016, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake shook Kaikoura, causing major damage to road and rail networks. Higgins was a member of the alliance formed to repair the links, known as the North Canterbury Transport Infrastructure Recovery (NCTIR). Other members included Waka Kotahi, KiwiRail, Fulton Hogan, Downer and HEB Construction.
 
Most of the earthquake damage was on a section of coastline approximately 30km north and 30km south of Kaikōura. The earthquake caused more than 30 major slips that covered the road and rail network. Approximately 1 million cubic metres of material had to be moved. Multiple road and rail bridges were damaged by the quake and 24 tunnels were damaged. The estimated cost of the repair was $1.25 billion. 
 
With considerable grit and determination, the Alliance team met all of their targeted milestones to date and received industry acclaim for their ability to solve problems, work collaboratively in an expert way to achieve the mammoth logistical challenges and targets. 
 
The NCTIR project was recognised for project delivery excellence by both industry and the community with two significant awards. The alliance was named as the winner of the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) 2018 People’s Choice Award, beating projects from around the globe. This is an award that requires public voting and demonstrates the significance of the project to the lives of New Zealanders. 
 
The NCTIR project also received the prestigious Rail Technical Society of Australasia’s Biennial Project Award, for reopening the Main North Rail Line between Blenheim and Christchurch just nine months after the 7.8 magnitude Kaikōura earthquake. The judging panel described the Main North Line earthquake recovery project as an “Inspiring example of how railway people respond energetically and successfully to the most severe challenges.” 

In 2019, KiwiRail engaged Brian Perry Civil to remediate the nearly 100-year old Bridge 190MSL that crosses the Shag River in Palmerston. It is a timber bridge with a steel beam superstructure. 
 
The project involved the construction of concrete bored piles, columns and cross heads under the existing structure. During the 40-hour block of line, the existing structure was demolished and two, 22m-long steel through girder sections were installed along with the precast abutment to form the new structures over water spans. 
 
Replacement of the existing timber cross heads and piles for the land spans section was achieved while keeping the rail line running by jacking the existing superstructure and supporting it to take live rail loads. The old timber structure was demolished, and new concrete cross heads and foundations were built prior to lowering the bridge back onto the new structure. The block of line was completed ahead of programme and the site handed back to KiwiRail early to allow them to complete their track works.

In this project, Higgins built a new overbridge designed to improve road user safety and travel times. 
 
The existing overbridge’s location meant the road beneath had a poor layout and was a dangerous area for motorists. The overbridge was also not up to earthquake standards, and was too narrow for a state highway. 
 
Starting in 2013, the project hit one of its major milestones in winter 2014 with the completion of the multiplate culvert over the main south trunk rail line. The culvert was completed one week ahead of the scheduled program and without any interference to train time schedules. Taking 15 weeks to complete, the culvert consists of 54 metres of multiplate (200 plates) held together with over 7700 bolts. 
 
Higgins Nelson and Blenheim crews combined to complete the next big portion of work involving simultaneous works to backfill over the multi-plate arch and the keystone retaining walls. 

The Auckland Manukau Eastern Transport Initiative (AMETI) is a 20-year, $1.5 billion project to address the shortfalls in transport infrastructure for the south and east of Auckland. Fletcher Construction delivered AMETI Phase One, which included facilities to increase rail patronage on the Panmure railway line.

The rail section of this project included a major upgrade of the Panmure railway station, a new Ellerslie-Panmure Highway bridge over the railway to cater for a future busway, and replacement of the Ireland Road-William Harvey Place railway footbridge.

We also constructed the first significant length of new AMETI roadway: a 1.5km two-lane link road from Morrin Road to Mt Wellington Highway, known as AMETI Glen Innes-Mt Wellington. At its southern end, adjacent to Panmure Railway Station, this link road was relocated beneath the Panmure railway station pedestrian concourse and Ellerslie Panmure Highway by means of a 220m-long concrete box tunnel. Carrying 20,000 vehicles per day, including taking 2400 trucks from local roads, the link road reduced congestion at the Panmure roundabout by almost half.

The transport improvements produced by AMETI Phase 1 significantly reduced traffic on the Mt Wellington and Ellerslie-Panmure Highways, removed freight from local roads and increased rail patronage by almost 60%.