Liner gives historic brick barrel new lease of life
A specialised team of experts, some from as far away as Germany and Australia, have been called in to help reinforce the historic brick barrel beneath Bridge Street.
Work is now underway to preserve and reuse the structure, which was designed in the 1860s for use as a drainage system.
“It’s in incredible condition considering it was laid in the 1870s,” says Mike Allen, Managing Director of NuFlow Tasman.
Working with the international team, a glass-reinforced plastic liner made from corrosion-resistant glass fibres will be installed inside the brick barrel. Relining the brick barrel will allow it to be repurposed as a stormwater pipe, while also preserving the historic structure and extending its life for decades to come.
The team moved onto Bridge Street East in early March to carry out final investigations and preparation work ahead of installing the liner. There are close to 100 old laterals – smaller pipes that connect to the main line – made from a range of materials that needed to be carefully trimmed so they don’t puncture the liner.
The team has also removed nearly 20 tonnes of silt from inside the barrel, some of which has likely been there since the late 1800s.
“We even found some one-penny coins from the 1860s in the silt, so this has been building up for some time,” says Mike.
“Twenty tonnes sounds like a lot, but in the grand scheme of things, 20 tonnes in 150-odd years is pretty minimal. The barrel has really stood the test of time.”
To read our full Media Release, visit News – Pitopito.
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