Kaikoura Earthquake

Kaikōura Earthquake Recovery

Bringing specialist geotechnical expertise to the Kaikōura Earthquake Recovery project

On November 14 2016, the Kaikōura earthquake was felt around New Zealand. It caused extensive damage to the area leaving communities stranded by slips, critical infrastructure and rail and road network severely damaged, including State Highway 1 (SH1) and the Main North Rail Line between Picton and Christchurch, which both had to be closed.

In response the North Canterbury Transport Infrastructure Recovery (NCTIR) alliance was set up to rebuild the SH1 and rail network north and south of Kaikōura (between Picton and Christchurch). The NZ Transport Agency, Kiwirail, Downer, Fulton Hogan, HEB and Higgins form the alliance.

Tetra Tech Coffey were seconded to NCTIR to provide specialist services for geotechnical and seismic design of new seawalls, bridge foundations, abutments, cut slopes and mechanically stabilized earth walls (MSEW).

State of the art detailed geotechnical design for new structures

After the earthquake, where realignment was necessary, new seawalls, bridge foundations, abutments, cut slopes and mechanically stabilized earth walls (MSEW) needed to be built for both the SH1 and the inland route SH70.

Tetra Tech Coffey provided specialist geotechnical design for those new structures, incorporating 2D static, pseudo-static and time history analyses using FLAC.

Our team is also providing construction monitoring for safety during slip stabilisation and design verification. The team also applied the AASHTO 2014 allowance for reduced seismic demands for the MSEW design by allowing for deformation of the new structure. Our team is also providing construction monitoring for safety during slip stabilisation and design verification.

Client name: North Canterbury Transport Infrastructure Recovery (NCTIR)
Location: Kaikōura, New Zealand
Duration: February 2017 – ongoing
Services provided: Specialist geotechnical services

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