Highway Engineering: The Tiverton-Wolverton Road Upgrade - Assignment Example

Faculty of Technology and Built Environment Department of Civil Engineering ENGG DE5204 Highway Engineering 0 Introduction The Tiverton- Wolverton Road Upgrade project is almost complete with few areas of landscaping remaining but to be completed in the rainy month of April. The project is to be completed at a cost of 30 million dollars with the aim of widening the 2.2 km. the widening will create easier and faster flow of traffic and also assist pedestrians with new safe crossings. The upgrade also has both underground and above services for the area. 2.0 Background In the early 1920s, a demand for an arterial road that linked Auckland’s west and central suburbs was needed. The Wolverton-Tiverton Street became a viable solution. The street linked Clark Street (New Lynn) with the Windsor road (New Windsor). Due to the increase of Auckland population, an upgrade for the arterial road was needed. The upgrade has several merits, benefitting the commuters and residential properties. The Tiverton/Wolverton route is an important district arterial route linking the town centre development with SH20 and the airport route. The project route carries 25000 Annual Average Daily Traffic at Wolverton and with the SH20 connected to SH1, the route experiences severe traffic congestion during the day and peak hours. The congestion was raised in the national papers in September 2010. The Tiverton/Wolverton route is identified in the National Land Transport Programme 2009-2012 as a high priority project committed for the 2010 construction period. The NZTA identified the route to Auckland Council as one of the route to be upgraded before the Waterview Connection Highway 20. The project will improve east west linkage for the city. 3.0 Problem Statement The 2012-15 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) in collaboration with Auckland Transport and other partners aimed to increase commutation for commuters around Auckland and improve efficiency in movement of freights. The programme aimed at investing in constructing the Western Ring Route, Auckland Manukau Eastern Transport Initiative (AMETI), improve road network to enable accessibility to motor vehicles, and upgrade of public transport modes such as rail, bus, and ferry services. NLTP has contributed to the safety, efficiency and resilience of Auckland Transport network through construction of Tiverton/Wolverton Road upgrade project. 4.0 Project Objectives and Benefits Safety investments create a transport system that eradicates human error which costs life through the four parts of a Safe System; safe roads and road sides, safe speeds, safe vehicles, and safe road use. The Tiverton/Wolverton Upgrade has delivered long-term benefits to the residents living and working in the area and those travelling along the busy route. Through improved traffic flow for commuters and freight carriers, the project delivers economic value in the Auckland region. Currently, the road has a daily traffic flow of 31,400 vehicles per day. The project covered the following areas; Create a four traffic lane on a rebuilt road surface from Clark Street East to the intersection of New Windsor Road and Maioro Street. This means that the former two-lane bottleneck between New Lynn and New Windsor are upgraded Installation of traffic signals at five main intersections to improve traffic flow and provide safe crossing points for pedestrians. These points are; Taylor Street/ Wolverton Street, St. George Street/Wolverton Street, Blockhouse Bay Road/ Tiverton Road/ Wolverton Street, Whitney Street/ Tiverton Road, and Tiverton Road/ New Windsor Road. An upgrade of the existing footpaths and installation of new pedestrian islands. The existing paths are upgraded to 2.5metres on the north and 1.8 meters on the southern side. Four new pedestrian islands and new pram crossings have been installed. This strategy improves safety of pedestrians. Provision of new underground and renewal of Vector power and Telecom services Upgrade water supply network, storm water, catch pits and pipe infrastructure. This will reduce the incidences of localized flooding and cater for demands of future population growth. Install 10 new bus shelters Upgrade street lighting to expected standards of a major arterial route and Landscaping works. 5.0 Route Selection Process 6.0 Environmental Issues Sustainability in construction projects is a major concern today with increased global warming due to carbon emission. The project involves several activities; one, on average, 60 people works on each day for a period of 20months. During the construction phase, 32000 cubic meters of material was removed. 34500 meters of ducting was laid in the 2.2 km space for communications, power, water and gas, 1500 tones of asphalt was laid, and large amount of black sand was used to strengthen the road base. This implies that heavy machinery was used in the project that contributed to carbon emission. Landscaping works and control of storm water in the project aim at protecting the environment. Te design incorporates planting of one hundred trees along the corridor. This is a mitigation upgrade for resource consent for the project. At the same time, it will replace the numerous trees removed to allow widening of the road. Inclusion of footpaths for pedestrians and cyclists encourage residents to involve in safe modes of transport that reduce carbon emission. The footpaths have been designed with safety precautions to motivate residents to participate in walking activities. Construction materials used such as Portland cement, and polyethylene to replace asbestos are readily available materials and cost effective for the project while at the same time providing value for money to the client as well as the residents. 7.0 Affected Parties Construction on Wolverton Street restricted and affected residents’ vehicles. As reconstruction began in the southern side of Wolverton Street, traffic was shifted to narrow temporary alignment with a continued flow in both directions. The access to residential properties between Blockhouse Bay Road roundabout and Mirands Street were seriously affected for a period of three weeks. Secure car park facility was availed to residents during construction phase as well as shuttle service. The shuttle service provided transport to residents to and from the car park. During installation of storm water drainage across Tiverton road and Wolverton Street, traffic management was implemented to allow excavations within the road. Pedestrian routes will be affected. Changes to the footpath were common during construction phases with the purpose of improving temporary access as works on kerb, channel, and footpath continued. Streets affected by the work are; Tiverton road, Wolverton Street, 258-276 Blockhouse Bay Road, 158-174 New Windsor Road, 9-15 Lansford Crescent, Pinewood Street, Pitcairn Place, Miranda street, St Georges Road, Taylors Street, Crowther Street, and Cluster Road. 8.0 Project Design Some intersections will be signalized to facilitate safe movement for vehicles and pedestrians across the corridor. To improve safety, the crossing points will have refuge islands. The lighting will have new poles and lamps. Traffic lows and pedestrian crossings will be improved on the alterative transit route through Richardson Road, White Swan Road, Hillsborough Road, and Donovan Road through intersection signalization and minor upgrades. Trees will be planted along the corridor as the Vector power and Telecom services are improved. Cyclists will have sign-posted cycle routes passing through Wolverton Street and Tiverton Road. This links the between Lynn town centre to the SH20 cycle way route. A bypass route passes through Miranda Street, Margate Road, Mulgan Street, and new Windsor road. Some vehicle crossings and dive ways will be upgraded for safety purposes as fibre-to-the-door ducts installed to future proof the corridor for the purpose of ultra-fast broadband services. The old asbestos cement water distribution mains will be relocated and removed. Upgrading of the system will be done with polyethylene pipe work. Flood water protection improvements will be offered for storm water culverts. This will strengthen the structures and minimize blockage. After structural works are completed, the road surface will be renewed. 9.0 Technical Challenges One of technical challenges experienced in the project is the relocation of the overhead power lines underground and removal of power line poles. This implies that the overhead service electricity lines will be removed from the road and put underground to customers’ houses. The existing gas services and power cables affected through widening process of the road will be relocated to road berms. In some situations, directional drilling will be applied to install ducts. This involves excavation works at the start with an end to each drilling length and potholes at intervals. This work will be done at the berm and where trenches are needed in some areas (Abusah & de Bruyn, 2007). 10.0 Conclusion The project is economically viable to the region through easing congestion along the route and linking the two areas as well as providing accessibility to other areas such as the airport. The separate cycling route is a good idea adopted in the design and construction phases of the project. The construction design and processes aim at sustainability of the environment which leads to reduction of carbon emission and greenhouse effect. References Abusah, S. & de Bruyn, C. (2007). Getting Auckland on Track: Public Transport and New Zealand’s Economic Transformation, Ministry of Economic Development Working Paper Ascari Partners (2008). Environmental snapshot, key issues facing the Auckland city region Auckland City Council (2007) Auckland city business and economy report 2007 Auckland City Council 2008 Auckland’s CBD Into the future: CBD Action Plan 2008-2011 Auckland City Council (2008). Auckland city business and economy report 2008 Auckland City Council & Auckland Regional Council (2008) Auckland City and Auckland Region’s Emerging Retail Trends and Future Retail Needs Assessment Auckland City Council & Boffa Miskell (2008). DRAFT future planning framework Landscape Work Stream, Auckland Isthmus PreliminaryMaps Auckland City Council, Maunsells, Metrowater(no date). “Network Discharge Consents – Assessment of Environmental Effects” Stormwater Asset Management Plan 2006-2007 Read More