Media Release – 22 September 2014

Largest continuous concrete pour since earthquakes

Christchurch’s largest continuous concrete pour since the earthquakes will start tomorrow morning.

The pour, for the new Bus Interchange, will start at 3am and take 10 to 12 hours to complete.

The interchange is a Crown-led project and is being constructed in a joint venture between Australian company Thiess and Christchurch’s Southbase Construction.

Christchurch Central Development Unit Director Warwick Isaacs says this is a significant moment for the city’s rebuild.

“We are very excited that this pour will result in the Bus Interchange beginning to take shape,” he says.

“The site will have approximately 1,460m3 of concrete poured to create the foundation slab for building the Lichfield Street frontage.

“It will take about 234 truck-loads of concrete from three different production plants to pour the 90 centimetre deep slab on the 90m by 16m site. This is equivalent to filling more than 13,000 average baths. Steel framework will commence within six weeks.

“The Bus Interchange is expected to be operational by Winter 2015,” Mr Isaacs says.

With the main entrance off Colombo Street, the Bus Interchange will have 16 bus bays (capable of handling more than 100 buses per hour), 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,” Mr Isaacs says.

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 9,600m3.

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