In a dawn ceremony in early September the first sod was turned for the sealing of the final 19kms of State Highway 1 at Cape Reinga. Martin Leak has been Project Manager of the $14.5 million works, involving negotiations with the Department of Conservation and local iwi since 2004.

It is a highly ecologically sensitive area with significant restraints on the road alignment which has necessitated working with the designers and the safety engineers to optimize a practical, cost effective solution. Resolve Group was involved in the procurement of both the Professional Services and Physical Works contractors before handing the project over for the construction phase.

We were proud to participate in the ceremony and look forward to reducing dust cloud, potholes and corrugations on this widely used tourist path. The physical work is expected to take three years to complete.

The upgrade of the existing Napier cycleway facility is part of Napier City Council’s “Bike It!” strategy. The aim is to encourage cycling and walking as a healthier and sustainable form of recreation and transport.

The final construction stage of this section of the cycleway will be completed this month. Resolve Group has had major design input as well as project managing this 1.6km long and 3.5m wide significant section. It goes right past the Port of Napier and includes a heavy truck crossing and two rail crossings. Particular features had to be incorporated into the design to ensure safety for truck and train drivers, as well as pedestrians and cyclists. In an innovative move, the concrete has been treated to include oxide in order to reduce the glare on the finished surface.

This project has been nominated for a cycling infrastructure award at the 2007 New Zealand Cycling Conference.