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Nuts and Bolts

Building Access Tracks

The first phase of construction on the overhead transmission line is building access to sites. Local Waikato contractors, Schick and Swap have been awarded the contracts to construct access tracks.

Access activities include clearing vegetation, installing gates, building culverts and benching.

Towers and Foundations

Each tower requires four foundations, one for each corner (leg) of the tower. These vary between 900 and 1200 mm in diameter. Construction of foundations takes, on average, three days per site.

Erecting a tower is much like building with Meccano.

The actual towers arrive on site in "bundle" of steel and crates of bolts. They are then laid out and divided into sections on the ground for assembly. This usually take between three and five days.

For the final tower erection, the sections are usually lifted into place using a crane. This takes one or two days. Towers are then fitted with anti-climbing devices and warning signs to prevent unauthorised access.