Products used: Pumped Concrete, Coloured Concrete - Elements

Summary:

An exciting new facility, Auckland’s first ever BMX-only park, is taking shape and will be open for Aucklanders to use before summer. The new BMX track features some very smooth concrete from Firth and has been built and designed by the Well-Connected Alliance (WCA*) as part of the New Zealand Transport Agency’s Waterview Connection project, which features dual tunnels that will connect the north-western motorway to the south-western motorway.

Construction of the new BMX track is part of the second stage of the Waterview Reserve redevelopment, which also includes a skate park. The playground (stage one) opened last year and has been hugely popular with locals with around a thousand people attending the opening.

The BMX track was designed by the WCA with input from local riders and constructed by Convic Skate Parks Ltd, a global leader in youth recreational facilities. The design of the track is quite similar to a well known track in Melbourne. The track features a series of consecutive jumps in a pump track style loop and is a world-class facility for people of all ages and abilities to enjoy.

“We used Convic to construct the new track and also consulted where necessary on the height and angles of some of the jumps as this is their field of expertise,” says Patrick Gibbs, Project Engineer for the WCA. “Their experience and expertise was invaluable in getting this track finished in some pretty horrible weather over the winter. Pouring concrete in the rain is not easy at the best of times and the winter we have just had was particularly challenging. Firth was pretty understanding as we had to postpone many pours due to the weather.”

“We pride ourselves on producing a good product for our customers and have been very pleased with the finished track,” says Rob Long, the Project Manager from Convic Skate Park Ltd. “My guys know their stuff as they are riders themselves and they know what is needed. We aim to achieve a great finish on the concrete and but it certainly helps to work with a good product and we have been very happy with the standard of product supplied by Firth as it helped us get a really good finish.”

“The skate park and BMX track are world-class facilities for people of all ages and abilities to enjoy and it will be great to see young skaters and riders developing their skills here,” says Patrick. “We really enjoyed the opening of the new playground at the end of last year and I have to say we are really looking forward to the opening of the new track and watching the energy and the rush of excitement people will get from it. It will make up for all the headaches, weather issues and late nights we had in trying to get this project finished for the summer.” *WCA - The Well-Connected Alliance comprises the Transport Agency, Fletcher Construction, Parsons Brinckerhoff, McConnell Dowell, Tonkin+Taylor and Obayashi Corporation.