Blenheim sits on deep alluvial gravels from the Wairau River, where summer temperatures regularly top 30°C and winter brings sharp frost cycles. These swings create thermal stresses that rigid pavements must accommodate through careful joint design and reinforcement. The high solar radiation across Marlborough accelerates concrete curing, which demands precise mix control to avoid early-age cracking before the pavement sees its first service load. Combined with the region’s seismic demands under NZS 1170.5, a standard concrete slab approach simply does not hold up here. We integrate local climate data with subsurface conditions to deliver rigid pavement designs that remain serviceable across decades, not just seasons.
A rigid pavement on Blenheim’s gravels lives or dies by its joint detailing and subbase drainage — get those two right, and the slab will outlast the building.
