Locally manufactured columns the answer to meeting tight timeframe at Westgate

With the opening of the well-publicised Waterview Tunnel and interchange, and the recent completion of the new Lincoln Road Interchange, work has continued further west to upgrade the last section of motorway of the Western Ring Route – the SH16 Lincoln to Westgate project.

Along with the creation of three lanes for traffic each way, a new bus shoulder lane, the extension of the North Western Cycleway (alongside the motorway) and a new bridge for Huruhuru Road, the Royal Road on/off ramps and bridge also needed attention – including the installation of brand new slimline lighting columns positioned in the median barrier.

“The nominated supplier for these 12m slimline columns imports them from China,” said Raj Dhat, Contract Manager for Broadspectrum New Zealand - the lighting contractor appointed by main contractor Hawkins Construction. “However in this case the timeframes for the installation of the new columns at the Royal Road section of the motorway was too tight for them which created a real problem for the overall schedule for the project. So I phoned around my other suppliers to see who could help. Lawrence at CSP said they could manufacture the columns and work to the tight schedule I gave them - which really helped us out of a bind.”

“It was an extremely tight deadline over the Christmas period but by splitting the delivery so we could supply the bolt down cages for these 12m slimline flanged based columns and then the columns themselves a few weeks later, Raj and his team could install the cages in the barrier to keep the project progressing,” says Lawrence Amos, CSP Sales Engineer - Poles Northern Region. “As we manufacture in New Zealand we were able to work to a tight timeframe.”

“Lawrence and CSP really helped us out which was very much appreciated,” says Raj. “Due to the help and support they showed us we have been able to also work with them on SH1 on the Longswamp section of the Waikato Expressway.”