Most of the work that the Stronger Christchurch Infrastructure Rebuild Team (SCIRT) does is with the pipes under the city’s roads. SCIRT uses a range of technologies to repair or replace earthquake damaged pipes, with directional drilling and pipe bursting being the key techniques utilised.
SCIRT contractors Downer used directional drilling recently to replace wastewater pipes on Beach Road in New Brighton. Downer also plans to use this technique for the repair of a watermain on Linwood Avenue.
Christchurch City Council said Trenchless Technology was chosen for drilling tasks because reinstating the site at the end of a project that has used directional drilling requires minimal work.
SCIRT anticipates its contractors will use similar techniques, where appropriate, on future projects. A list has been released by SCRIT detailing where works are taking place, and which of its four contractors (City Care, Downer, Fulton Hogan and MacDow Fletcher) will be performing the work here.
SCIRT has said it will explore alternative technologies to find the best value solution for the people of Christchurch.
