Kaikoura State Highway 1 (SR14)

The Kaikoura M7.8 Earthquake caused widespread damage to the road and rail corridor some 20 km North and South of the Kaikoura township. Over 40 major slips inundated the road and rail with over 750,000 m³ of material from source zones up to 500 m above sea level.  The highly fractured greywacke meant frequent future shallow landslides had to be expected. Barriers in several locations were necessary before the reopening of the SH1 road and railway below.

The rockfall frequency requires for a system that attenuates the rockfall energy to a manageable level, minimises maintenance and enables easy clearing.

A 4 m RXE-2000 rockfall barrier was modified into an 89 m Hybrid Attenuator with a 12/3/350 ROCCO® ringnet tail. This system enables the rockfall energy to be attenuated and guided into a catchment area at the toe of the slope for easier clearing maintenance.

The post spacing is between 8 and 12 m depending on topography. Several more attenuator systems are planned along the corridor where there is sufficient space at the bottom of the slope for retainment.

Read more about the other Kaikoura projects:

•   Slope protection
•   Shallow landslide protection