343-18-133-AC COWIE STREET BRIDGE AND ROAD CONSTRUCTION

Details

The Newmarket Crossing project (‘the Project’) consists of removal of the crossing at Sarawia Street and construction of a road bridge from Cowie Street over the rail corridor near Newmarket Park. A new road will be constructed along the edge of Newmarket Park, adjacent to the rail corridor (Newmarket Branch Line), which will connect the new bridge from Cowie Street to Laxon Terrace. The new road bridge (spanning approximately 22 m) will be over the electrified rail line. KiwiRail access for maintenance purposes to the eastern end of the rail line and Parnell Tunnel is to be allowed for via an access road (approximately 50 m in length) that is controlled by a security gate.
It is proposed to close and remove the crossing and turn Sarawia Street into a cul-de-sac. Access to the Newmarket Branch Line upmain line for rail maintenance purposes will be provided from Sarawia Street via a security gate, and to the downmain line from Laxon Terrace via the bridge from Cowie Street.
The proposed road (including the 22 m bridge span) will be approximately 260 m in length and a total of 7.4 m in width, consisting of two 2.7 m wide traffic lanes, two 0.3 m wide drainage channels, and a 1.8 m wide footpath on the eastern (Newmarket Park) side.
The bridge abutments will be concrete piles down to competent rock with wing walls at the abutments aligned with the direction of the road, where possible. Wing walls and abutment facing panels will consist of precast concrete panels cast off-site. The bridge superstructure will consist of eight 900 mm deep single-hollowcore precast concrete beams, with concrete edge barriers on each side of the roadway. Concrete pile retaining walls will be constructed where required along the eastern edge of the new roadway adjacent to Newmarket Park, with retained heights ranging from 1 m to 4 m.
The proposed road will be designed as a low speed environment, with traffic calming measures implemented at several locations including single-direction chicanes near 9 Cowie Street and near Laxon Terrace.
The existing pedestrian and cycling access from Newmarket Park to Laxon Terrace will be relocated further west along Laxon Terrace to connect to existing park paths as part of the Project, maintaining access into the Park throughout the project. This will include relocation of the existing Pou and seating area currently found at the start of Laxon Terrace to the new pedestrian entrance into Newmarket Park.
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