The tī kōuka will be replanted near this wetland (foreground) in Zone 2, close to the Shared Use Path and overlooking Ashhurst and the Manawatū River on Te Ahu a Turanga: Manawatu-Tararua Highway.
Grant Kauri is owner interface manager, Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency
OPINION
Winter can be a challenging time for road construction due to wet weather, but it’s the best time for planting.
Our landscaping teams are out in force, taking advantage of the wet ground conditions, which provide the ideal start for new plants.
Since the fourth landscaping season began in April, the team has put 285,000 plants in the ground, out of an expected total of 404,000 for the year.
Most of this year’s planting is focused on areas next to the highway, with the bulk of this type of landscaping due to be completed this year.
In previous years planting was focused on areas away from the highway due to earthworks being in progress, which is known as offset planting as it represents the project’s ecological mitigation efforts. The teams are returning to some of these areas this year to conduct infill planting, which fills any gaps to ensure maximum canopy coverage.
One landscaping event that’s generating some interest on site is the upcoming re-planting of a tī kōuka, or cabbage tree.
Before construction began there were several tī kōuka on the site, which needed to be removed to make way for the highway.
Most were felled, but two trees were carefully removed and sent to a nearby nursery, where they’ve been awaiting re-planting.
Tī kōuka hold special significance to iwi, who planted the trees as wayfinding points. They were also commonly used as sites for planting whenua (placenta).
One of the two trees did not survive and will be placed near where it was taken from, while the surviving tree – which is estimated to be up to 100 years old - will be replanted in the coming weeks.
The planting site is in Zone 2 near Cut 13, near where it was taken from and very close to the shared-use path. This means people walking or cycling Te Ahu a Turanga will be able to view this impressive 10-metre-high tree.
Construction update
Construction of the pavements – the layers of aggregate that make up the road – is progressing well, with 80% of the highway now covered with aggregate.
The teams are busy putting down layers of asphalt, which now covers 3km of the road.
To help with production of the 110,000 tonnes of asphalt needed for the entire project, an asphalt plant has been set up on-site and will be operational in the coming weeks.
This will support the supply of asphalt coming from the plant in Bulls, which has been supplying the asphalt so far.
The structures teams also continue to make good progress, with 38 of 54 segments of the bridge deck on Parahaki Bridge now completed.
Over the river at Eco-Viaduct, all bridge deck panels are in place and the team is busy completing the remaining concrete deck pours. This bridge is on track to be completed by the end of 2024.
More information
If you want to learn more about the project, head to www.nzta.govt.nz/projects/te-ahu-a-turanga/ or visit the Woodville Community Library and Information Centre for the latest flyover, project updates and the Drive the Highway simulator.
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