Over a thousand workers getting infrastructure back on track
Rt Hon Winston Peters
Deputy
Prime Minister
Minister for State Owned
Enterprises
Hon Phil
Twyford
Minister of Transport
MP for
Te Atatū
Over a thousand workers
getting infrastructure back on track today
Over a thousand road and rail workers are back to work today to help kick-start the post-lockdown economy and get New Zealand moving, Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters and Minister of Transport Phil Twyford announced today.
KiwiRail will have works start back up on almost all of their projects today, including the Kaikōura rebuild and Wellington metro upgrades. New Zealand’s largest infrastructure project City Rail Link starts back up today as well.
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency has approved the start up plans and works will restart this week on 25 of the 44 state highway projects in the construction phase around the country, including Transmission Gully and Pūhoi to Warkworth. All state highway and rail projects are expected to have works restart next Monday.
Winston Peters said the Government is getting the record infrastructure build back up and running as soon as possible to help support workers and businesses and kick-start economic activity.
“We’ve worked hard to help cushion the blow from COVID-19 with initiatives like the wage subsidy and advance payments to transport contractors; and we know the industry is now raring to go.
“We’re putting our money where our mouth is and getting people back to work day one of Alert Level 3 so we can get money into the pockets of businesses and workers sooner,” Winston Peters said.
Phil Twyford said it’s been a real team effort getting projects ready to restart.
“I’d like to thank the industry, Waka Kotahi, City Rail Link Ltd and KiwiRail for their efforts which will see well over 1,000 construction workers back on the job this week. For example, the Kaikōura rebuild will see around 450 road and rail workers back to work, City Rail Link expects 400 workers back this week, and Transmission Gully and Pūhoi to Warkworth will ramp back up to hundreds of workers at each.
“Major infrastructure projects like these and those contained in the New Zealand Upgrade programme will help provide much needed stimulus to the economy and guaranteed jobs.
“Moving to Alert Level 3 does not mean a return to pre-pandemic ways of working. Strict health and safety protocols are being followed at every site to keep workers and the public safe. These include restricting access to sites, requirements for workers to maintain physical distancing and the use of additional protective clothing.
“It’s too soon
to say whether COVID-19 has had any effect on construction
timeframes on individual projects. My expectation is that
project teams will look at accelerating works where
possible,” Phil Twyford said.
Media contact for Winston Peters:
Alex Masters 021 809 186
Media contact
for Phil Twyford: Tom James 027 308 6010
Capital
Projects/Upgrades When physical work
resuming What work Staff numbers returning
to work Wellington Metro
Upgrades/Renewals:
Mast/line
replacement
Trentham – UH double
tracking
Catch up track renewals on Wairarapa
Line
From 28/4
From 28/4
From 4/5
Checking for
buried services, drilling and pouring foundations, standing
masts, Melling Line rewiring and Melling Junction
rewiring
Site preparation, earthworks (off line
– trains running)
Site
investigations, including digging test pits in preparation
for later works
40, increasing to 70 (during blocks of
line) after second week
10 in first week, rising to
20
Less than
5Main North Line – Kaikoura rebuild
(NCTIR - KiwiRail and NZTA)
Additional
Kaikoura projects:
Progressively over the week starting
28/4
From 28/4
From
28/4Road and rail – 42 sites on MNL and
highways
Track works
Tunnel 21
bypassApprox. 450 (across rail and road) returning
to work or re-mobilising
16
50-60City Rail
Link From 28/4 Construction
works 200 ramping up to 400 over the
week Transmission Gully From
28/4 Construction works Ramping up to
approx. 650 by next week Pūhoi to
Warkworth From 28/4 Construction
works Ramping up to approx. 400 by next
week Northland Rail revitalisation
(PGF) From 4/5 Rail
transfer 10 Hamilton – Auckland
commuter service
From
28/4
From 28/4
Work on Te Rapa
Passenger Carriage Maintenance facility
Surveying for wash system and stabling
works preparation at Westfield (South Auckland)
30
2-4Bridge 190 (Main
South Line) From 28/4 Bridge
works 10 Bridge 91 (East Coast Main
Trunk line) From 28/4 Bridge
works 10 Bridge 105
(ECMT) From 28/4 Bridge
works 10 Bridge 13 (Main North
Line) From 28/4 Bridge
works 10 Bridge 229 (North Island
Main Trunk Line) From 28/4 Bridge
works 10 Waimiha slip repair
(NIMT) From 28/4 Bridge
works 10 Woburn Workshops
Upgrades:
Plant 2
refurbishment
Inventory/Amenities
From 28/4
From
28/4
Seismic strengthening
works
Continuing site
investigations
20-30
2-4Waltham
Scenic Journey Service Centre From
28/4 Construction
works 10-15 Palmerston North Drop
Pit From 28/4 Construction
works 2-4