Milestone in work to restore transport route through Kaikōura

A major milestone has been reached in rebuilding the quake-damaged road and rail transport route through Kaikōura.

Workers have repaired and strengthened 60km of road and rail which was badly damaged in the magnitude 7.8 quake of November 2016.

Government, iwi and transport officials marked the departure of the alliance set up to steer the project.

Transport Minister Michael Wood, Te Tai Tonga MP Rino Tirikatene, Kaikōura Mayor Craig Mackle, Te Rūnanga o Kaikōura Chair Hariata Kahu, and representatives from the North Canterbury Transport Infrastructure Recovery (NCTIR) Alliance held a ceremony to mark the event.

The alliance was established by Waka Kotahi / NZ Transport Agency and KiwiRail along with Downer, Fulton Hogan, HEB Construction and Higgins.

Wood thanked the 9000 people who helped rebuild the transport corridor at a cost of $1.25 billion.

"They not only reconnected communities and businesses, they strengthened those connections," he said.

Tunnels have been enlarged to help freight be more easily moved and roads have been engineered to be more resilient. Safety has been enhanced by widening roads and adding guardrails along the parts of the route.

Wood said the workforce located in the area had helped its economic recovery, helped by the purchase of more than 240,000 meals from Kaikōura cafes and restaurants.

A new Kaikōura town entry sign was unveiled and two tekoteko (carved pillars) were blessed as part of the ceremony. They were developed as part of an overall cultural artwork package at sites along the coast created in partnership with Te Rūnanga o Kaikōura, which tell stories of whakapapa and connection.

Wood said a small team would stay on in the New Year to complete a rockfall protection canopy south of Kaikōura.