Aotea Station construction to re-start

We hope that you and your families have stayed safe and well during the COVID-19 Alert Level 4 lock-down period.
 
We would like to inform you that construction on Link Alliance worksites will recommence this week Wednesday 22 September when Auckland moves to Alert Level 3.
  
Our immediate priority is ensuring the safety of our people and the wider community. We have reimplemented the strict health and hygiene protocols we used when previously working during Alert Level 3 including physical distancing and personal protective equipment (PPE) such as masks. 
 
If you are walking around our construction sites, continue to follow physical distancing rules and follow instructions provided by our team and on construction signage. 

We understand that there’s some uncertainty and hardship due to the impacts of COVID-19, and we will work to minimise impacts of our construction works, including expediting works where possible during this phase.
 
The City Rail Link project is a key element of New Zealand’s economic stimulus, and the Link Alliance has spent the Level 4 lock-down period preparing to start construction works as quickly and safely as possible. The project is a large-scale procurer of goods and services and currently provides employment for approximately 2000 people.
   
It is our priority to keep our community updated during this period. Under Alert Level 3 we are now unable to meet face-to-face, but we have many other channels to keep everyone informed. 
 
If you wish to contact us please email us at: aotea@linkalliance.co.nz or call 0800 CRL TALK (0800 275 8255 and press option 3) to speak to us. Please also keep an eye on CRL’s social media pages (Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn) and website www.cityraillink.govt.nz as we will continue to provide information on these channels.
 
Kia kaha

The Aotea Station team

Support available to businesses and individuals

We have put together some links to support packages and resources that may be helpful during this time.

• Covid19.govt.nz - Comprehensive official information about support available to businesses and individuals. 
• Free Covid-19 collateral - Do you need posters, floor decals, or other printing? Free collateral is available here for businesses, communities, and events.
• Heart of the City has pulled together a vast amount of information about different support packages available to businesses.
• Link Alliance's Small Business Support Programme continues.
• CRL's targeted hardship fund is accepting expressing of interest. 

Upcoming Aotea Station construction

The focus of our re-start activity will be picking up from where we left off just before the lockdown began. We have also identified some opportunities to accelerate work during Alert Level 3, including some work on upcoming Sundays (see below). 

South Zone - Mayoral Drive area

• Excavation of the tunnel boring machine (TBM) opening portal continues (this is where the head of the TBM will be removed).
• Construction of the first floor of the station superstructure (above-ground station entrance building) will continue.
• Excavation of concourse level (B1) continues with concrete slab construction well underway.

Central Zone - Albert Street from Wellesley to Victoria

• Underground excavation of the concourse level of the station platform continues below ground near Atrium Carpark.
• Roof slab construction will continue outside the AA Centre. 

Victoria Street Zone

• Utilities upgrade and relocation on Victoria Street will continue. 
• Station construction will continue at the Victoria Street intersection with piling and guide wall construction, and preparations for the arrival of the diaphragm wall plant in a few weeks. 
• Our information centre, Te Pūkaki, has arrived near Elliott Street and we will be preparing this for opening to the public once it is safe to do so. 

North Zone - Albert Street from Victoria to Wyndham

• Roof slab construction continues north towards Kingston Street.
• Work to widen the road from the corner of Durham and Albert slip lane, up to the Finance Centre Wilson Carpark, will continue.
• Underground excavation of the tunnels near Wyndham Street will continue, as we prepare to 'break through' into the completed tunnels coming up from Britomart (this is expected to happen in October)

For up to four Sundays following the restart (26 September, 3 October, 10 October, 17 October) we will be working on site primarily in the Victoria Street area. These Sunday works will allow to accelerate some packages of work during Alert Level 3 when the city centre is expected to be less busy. Works will include utility diversions and guide wall construction. To minimise disruption, we will start work after 8am and the focus of activities will be on less noisy work.