14 Dec 2017

Contractors are about two-thirds of the way through repairing the earthquake damage to New Brighton Pier’s support columns.

They have managed to repair 11 columns so far, leaving just six more to go.

Repairing each column takes between three and four weeks, depending on weather and sea conditions.

“Most of the repair work they are doing is happening below sea level and they are having to drive caissons, which are like segmented water-tight tubes, into the seabed before they can begin work on the columns themselves,’’ says Christchurch City Council City Services General Manager David Adamson.

“There were a number of issues early on which slowed progress. The localised ground conditions affected the sinking of the caissons and the contractor encountered a number of submerged obstacles, including some piles from the original wooden pier.

“Often there is a learning curve on projects like this. The contractor was quick to refine the repair methodology and the works are now progressing well. Things have settled down and every few weeks we’ve been able to give the public access to a bit more of the pier,’’ Mr Adamson says.

Work on the pier is on schedule to finish in April.

“The contractors will be taking a well-earned break at Christmas. They are going to shift most of their plant and equipment to the end of the pier which means we will be able to allow the public access to all but about 20 metres of it over the holidays,’’ Mr Adamson says.