The long-awaited Te Ara o Te Ata Mt Messenger Bypass has reached its most significant milestone yet with the official completion of the project’s 235m tunnel. Tunnelling teams marked the breakthrough on 28 January, successfully finishing the excavation and lining of the structure.
Work is also ramping up on the project’s 125m bridge. Earthworks for the concrete supports are finished, and the focus has shifted to the south pier. The bridge uses angled "legs" designed specifically to protect the wetland and Mimi Stream below.
Deep under the new road, the team is also installing nearly 100 giant concrete pipes. These culverts aren't just for drainage; they include special "fish passages" to allow native aquatic life to move through the area undisturbed.
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