With construction at the Boardwalk now well underway, contractors have released some facts and figures that put the scale and size of the project into perspective.
In the initial excavation phase, more than 115 000m3 of earth and rock were removed, enough to fill almost 60 Olympic swimming pools. Then 1 424 soil nails and 27 ground anchors were used to secure the excavation sidewalls, while more than 1 360m of subsoil drainage piping and nearly 10 000m2 of waterproofing – enough to cover a rugby field – were laid to ensure the new structures stay dry.
More than 32 000m3 of concrete – enough to fill 60 standard domestic swimming pools – together with more than 5 200 tons of reinforcement and 158 tons of structural steel will be used in the basic structures, with 1 852 columns providing support. In addition more than 37 000m2 of brickwork, enough to cover over three rugby fields, will be used to enclose the structures, and most of that will be hidden behind some 80 000m2 of internal and external plaster which could provide a rather hard surface for a further 8 rugby fields.
Once the structures are complete, they will be covered by 4 600m2 of roof covering, enough to enclose almost six tennis courts, while the public areas in the different stories of the new buildings will require more than 35 000m2 of ceilings – enough to cover almost 44 tennis courts.
When all of that is complete, the walls in the public areas will be covered by 10 000m2 of wallpaper and 3000m2 of shiplap timber cladding, while the floors will be covered by 15 000m2 of tiling, and 14 500m2 of plush carpeting, enough to cover 14 rugby fields. More than 10 000 new and replacement lights will be fitted to the new buildings, and seven lifts and eight escalators will provide quick and easy access.
Some areas will be opened to the public over the next few months and the target date for completion of the project is December 2012.
Boardwalk from the air during September 2011. Image by Avenge Grinaker-LTA.
