One of the world’s biggest piling machines has landed in Auckland and will be moved in to position in lower Albert St.
The Soilmec SR 100 has been shipped to New Zealand from Italy by Connectus, the Hawkins McConnell Dowell joint venture contracted to construct the City Rail Link cut and cover tunnels along Albert St.
When folded in transport configuration, the Soilmec SR 100 is about 19 metres long by 3.5 metres wide, and 4m high.
The sheer scale of the machine means moving it from portside to its initial Auckland CBD position will take three hours and take place during the night to facilitate safe movement and minimise traffic effects. Quay St will be down to one lane and lower Albert St will be closed for this work.
When fully unfurled with attachments the Soilmec SR 100 will be 5.5m wide and 11 metres long. The mast is about 29 metres high (nine storeys high).
The piling machine weighs 150 tonnes and contains a 480 KW powered engine. It will be used to drill 362 piles to about 20 metres deep, starting mid-October.
