People travelling in and out of the Waikato may have been watching with interest as the new sections of the Waikato Expressway take shape. There’s plenty to see above ground, as the two billion dollar project winds its way towards delivering more than 100km of State Highway between the Bombay Hills and south of Cambridge.
What people can’t see is what’s going on underground.
Observers at either end of the Expressway may have noticed vehicles displaying the signage of Hamilton-based civil engineering company, Civtec.
Civtec has installed 20km of streetlight cabling in the Rangiriri and Cambridge sections of the highway, as well as 5km of ITS (Intelligent Transport System) ducting to facilitate the communication requirements for the new expressway.
Civtec completed this work using horizontal directional drilling and trenching methods and has ongoing work with Traffic Services Limited, installing and maintaining street and traffic lights in the Waikato area.
Horizontal Directional Drilling is a technique used by Civtec to allow cables and pipes to be laid underground with minimal disruption to surface areas.
“Horizontal Directional Drilling can be used to undertake projects on both small and large scales,” says Civtec’s Operations Manager, Shane Smart. “With Civtec’s wide capabilities and resources, we are able to facilitate both.
When complete, the Waikato Expressway will be the key transport corridor for the Waikato region, connecting Auckland to the Waikato and Bay of Plenty. Installation and maintenance of cabling and ducting are essential parts of the structure.
“These are examples of how directional drilling and Civtec’s capabilities can be used on large scale construction projects and in areas that you may not have thought about,” says Mr Smart.
Civtec are experts in directional drilling, underground thrusting, civil engineering works and utilities and possesses a fleet of equipment, including four directional drills of varying sizes, from recognised manufacturers such as Ditch Witch and Vermeer.
By Tristan Hooker/MediaPA
