Geotechnical Investigations and Construction in ActiveGeothermal Areas: Rotorua, New Zealand.

The Whakarewarewa thermal area in Rotorua, New Zealand, is an active geothermal area and major tourist attraction. upgrade of the facility includes a 1.8 km paved and suspended timber deck track, three shallow cut and cover tunnels, two new bridges and an upgrade of an existing glulam bridge, all constructed on difficult and dynamic ground conditions well beyond the range of conventional geotechnical engineering design solutions. Construction of three new architecturally designed buildings is also programmed to begin in 1998. Comprehensive field and laboratory investigations over a four year span were undertaken, complimented by ongoing design during the construction phase.