Ōtaki Gorge slip repairs start 11 February

Repairs to the slip at the notorious Devil's Elbow bend of Ōtaki Gorge Road are to begin next Wednesday 11 February 2015.

The dropout is situated about 10km from State Highway 1 and occurred after heavy rains just before Christmas.

Contractors will drive long lengths of iron rail down into the gorge-side of the slip face, at one-metre centres. These will be taken down several metres until they meet hard rock. Wooden retaining timbers can then be put in place.

On the opposite side of the road, smaller lengths of iron rail called ‘deadmen’ will be pile driven down through the drainage channel. The contractors will then excavate through the road and connect the rails to the deadmen with wire rope cables for added stability.

At the bottom of the rails, tie-backs will be drilled into the rock face and grouted in to help stabilise the toe of the wall.

The new wall has been designed by a structural engineer and will have both design and construction certificates. Construction will take approximately three weeks.

A stop/go closure will be in place during construction with minor delays predicted.

Council’s Network Contracts Engineer Neil Williams said work would be restricted to Monday to Friday, so as not to obstruct trampers and others who use the popular Ōtaki Forks picnic and camping area at weekends.

The Department of Conservation, forestry companies and local residents are being informed of the work schedule.