Christchurch’s largest continuous concrete pour yet since the earthquakes is scheduled to start tomorrow morning.
The pour, for the new Bus Interchange, will take 10 to 12 hours to complete.
It will take about 234 truck-loads of concrete from three different production plants to pour the 90 centimetre deep slab on the site. This is equivalent to filling more than 13,000 average baths says Christchurch central development unit director Warwick Issacs.
The interchange is a Crown-led project and is being constructed in a joint venture between Australian company Thiess and Christchurch’s Southbase Construction.
The site will have approximately 1,460 cubic metres of concrete poured to create the foundation slab for building the Lichfield Street frontage. Steel framework will commence within six weeks.
“The Bus Interchange is expected to be operational by Winter 2015,” says Isaacs.
With the main entrance off Colombo Street, the Bus Interchange will have 16 bus bays, indoor waiting areas, taxi ranks, a covered lock-up facility for 100 bicycles and secure public lockers.
Regional bus lines will also be catered for, with stops planned to be located outside the interchange on Lichfield Street.
“Planning for future development has also been taken into consideration, with the slab being designed to withstand the possible construction of a three-storey structure being built atop the Bus Interchange,” says Isaacs.
While this is the largest continuous concrete pour on an anchor project, it will not be the biggest slab to be laid. The justice and emergency services precinct, when completed, will have the largest main slab for an anchor project, measuring about 9600 cubic metres.
