GSI PROJECTS
Mountain Road
Overview:
Cyclone Gabrielle caused major damage to Mountain Road in the Waitakere ranges, forcing a full closure. We were brought in by Ventia to tackle the repair jobs across nine separate slip sites. Our team worked quickly to implement custom-engineered solutions for each site.
- Customer: Ventia
- Designer: GSI
- Scope:9 Sites, Micropiles, Soil Nails, Load Testing and Erosion Control
- Project Date: Late 2023/Early 2025
Design.
Each of the nine slip sites had its own unique design hurdles, such as weak soil, fractured rock and steep inclines. We had to overcome multiple challenges, such as working on a narrow road with several crews at once, coordinating with civil works and strict environmental rules to protect the area from Kauri Dieback. Space was incredibly limited, so careful planning was required to navigate the drainage and paving repairs.
Build.
To expedite the works our approach was to have multiple crews on-site at the same time, tackling each of the slips simultaneously. This meant we had to be flexible with our drilling techniques to suit the specific slope and access constraints of each location. Across the nine sites, we installed 159 Micropiles, 527 Soil nails and over 2000m2 erosion control matting. We also applied 210m3 of shotcrete, poured 253m3 no-fines concrete and completed 89 load tests. Our engineers were readily on hand to make design refinements as required, which was crucial for keeping the project moving and staying on schedule. We also worked closely with Ventia to ensure the project ran smoothly.
Deliver.
Our staged remediation programme restored stability and resilience to the slopes along Mountain Road. Our design-and-build approach meant we could deliver complex geotechnical solutions safely and efficiently, despite the challenges. We were able to restore road access and improve its long-term performance.
