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Te Komititanga opens for Aucklanders
“Thank you Auckland” says CRL after ‘boring’ day!
Curtain opens on a new dawn for City Rail Link
Ōtāhuhu provides glimpse of CRL’s future
CRL’s “Boring Day Out” tickets available Thursday
Aucklanders’ chance for a “Boring Day Out”
CRL starts first stage of heritage “jigsaw”
Modern CRL welcomes traditional guardian, Saint Barbara
Farewell - and welcome to a new look Albert Street
Haere mai! City Rail Link welcomes early Christmas “gift”
CRL helping “paint the scene” for Auckland’s Artweek
Mining underway on country’s deepest station
Lower Queen Street turns green
CRL “Flying the Flag” to prevent construction suicides
On its way! TBM passes big factory tests
Night works necessary at busy Customs St West intersection
Work starting on the country’s deepest railway station
CRL’s ‘big build’ ramps up at Mt Eden
Green light for country’s busiest railway station
Tackling the unexpected below Auckland’s streets
Albert Street turning a new shade of green
Over 80 hours of work sees critical step forward to Mt Eden CRL construction
Plan for busy CRL works during Queen’s Birthday holiday
New dates for CRL Mt Eden closures after lockdown
CRL action to help get economy “pumping”
“Remarkable” Dame Whina Cooper wins CRL vote
“Strong and safe” restart at CRL construction sites
CRL “champing at the bit” for construction to re-start
Provincial “battle” over CRL search for inspiring name
Wanted! Creative children for Auckland’s big rail project
Date confirmed for ancient tree found at CRL site
Then there were three! Search narrows for inspiring name
COVID-19 Alert Closes CRL Construction Sites
CRL search narrows for outstanding New Zealand woman
Central Auckland traffic closure for CRL station build
Quirky names for City Rail Link’s “Lady in Waiting”
New Zealanders’ role in big day for Auckland’s CRL project
Tropical paradise a new home for CRL building
CRL work resumes at “runaway bus” site
Below on this page are news releases from 2020.
Previous releases: News releases from 2019 can be found here and for 2018 and 2017 here.
Earlier CRL-related releases from the AT CRL Project Team, New Zealand Government and Auckland Council can be read here.
18 December 2020
Te Komititanga opens for Aucklanders
Tāmaki Makaurau today celebrated the opening of Te Komititanga - a striking new people-friendly square – in the heart of the city’s downtown.
Te Komititanga – which means ‘to mix’ or ‘to merge’ in Māori – is designed for people on the move or for those who just want to stop and take a breather. It is ideally located in lower Queen Street next to two busy transport locations - the Britomart rail station and the ferry terminal across the road.
It has been delivered as part of the City Rail Link C1 Contract which includes new underground rail tunnels between Britomart and Albert Street and the restoration of the Chief Post Office which will house the Britomart Transport Centre.
Minister for Transport, Hon. Michael Wood says the opening is an exciting milestone for a project that will deliver significant benefits when it is complete.
“When complete in 2024, the City Rail Link will move the equivalent of 16 lanes of motorway at peak times, helping to reduce congestion and emissions.
“It’s already improving central Auckland with this brand new public space that people can enjoy in time for Christmas and the 36th America’s Cup,” says Mr Wood.
Mayor Phil Goff says Te Komititanga is a great new crossroads for Auckland where people will be able to enter and leave the city by ferry, bus and rail.
“It’s part of the heart of our city, a place where people can enjoy traffic-free spaces, gather and meet with friends, look out over the harbour and visit the fantastic new places to shop and eat,” he says.
“Together with the new harbourside park under construction and the reinvigoration of Quay Street, this area will be world class.
“It’s great to open Te Komititanga today in time for summer. It will be a gathering place for Aucklanders and New Zealanders, and when our borders reopen, for our international visitors as well.”
The name Te Komititanga was gifted by Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei and City Rail Link’s Mana Whenua Forum before it was adopted by Auckland Council’s Waitematā Local Board in November this year.
Today at dawn, mana whenua blessed Te Komititanga before the Minister and Mayor officially cut the ribbon and welcomed Aucklanders to use the square.
As well as the mixing of people, the name reflects the square’s location where the waters of Waitematā and Wai Horotiu, the stream that runs under Queen Street into the harbour, merged.
The square includes over 137,000 individual pieces of basalt pavers laid to incorporate mana whenua narratives. This includes a whāriki or welcome mat designed by Mana Whenua weavers to depict a woven harakeke (flax) mat that greets visitors to Tāmaki Makaurau from the sea. Other designs reference a meeting point of two waters, the Waitematā harbour and Wai Horotiu, before the area was reclaimed.
City Rail Link Ltd Chair, Sir Brian Roche says the project is committed to leaving behind community legacies that people will continue to enjoy long after the Project has ended.
“When we put down our spades and shovels, City Rail Link is determined to leave behind a better Auckland – above and below ground. I believe Te Komititanga and other locations where we’ve made a mark show that we mean business,” Sir Brian says.
Te Komititanga’s official opening marks the end of the first stage of a two stage programme of improvements in this area of downtown Auckland.
Stage Two includes works on sections of Tyler and Galway Streets, as well as the Britomart precinct and parts of Customs Street, scheduled for completion by the middle of next year. The work includes laying pavers, installing new street furniture, planting new trees, and laying foundations for a new plaza and pedestrian-friendly roads.
The reopening of the Chief Post Office is planned for next March. The exact timing is dependent on how long it will take to carry out tenancy fit outs on the historic building’s ground floor.
16 December 2020
Work hours change will drive CRL tunnel build
Tunnel mining at the City Rail Link’s Mt Eden site is switching to a 24-hour operation Monday-to- Friday to help maintain construction momentum on New Zealand’s largest transport infrastructure project.
Twenty-four hour work at the tunnel portal site on the corner of Nikau and Flower Streets starts tomorrow (Thursday, 17 December).
Mining will continue 24 hours Monday-to-Friday. Saturday mining hours are restricted to 7am-7pm. There will be no work on Sundays nor on public holidays like Christmas and New Year’s Day.
Link Alliance Project Director, Francois Dudouit, says measures are in place to reduce the impact the increased hours may have of on the project’s residential and business neighbours.
“Mine tunnelling is an essential part of launching our Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) next April, but we are mindful of our supportive neighbours and we’ll be doing all we can to reduce any disturbance from our night works in particular,” he says.
Work may produce some low-level noise and vibration which will reduce as mining gets deeper, and Mr Dudouit says noise and vibration will be closely monitored by environmental experts.
Mitigations in place will include:
Placing a curtain at the portal entrance to reduce noise
Scheduling noisier work to day shifts.
Lights used at night will be angled down directly onto the work site to avoid light pollution
Mr Dudouit says the increased hours are temporary and are necessary to complete a 51 metre-long entrance to the tunnel over the next four months.
Work during the 24-hour operations include digging at the portal face, removing the spoil, spraying concrete (shotcrete) inside the cavern to stabilise foundations and drilling. The Link Alliance is building a cavern and trench which the TBM will use to start its journey underground into central Auckland. The trench will later become the railway line connecting CRL with the Western Line at the redeveloped Mt Eden station.
Separate to the work at the tunnel portal, other programmes of work will start at the wider Mt Eden site during the holiday break starting on Boxing Day (26 December) until 10 January. Work will start at 7am except on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day when there will be an 8am start. There will be some night work.
Mr Dudouit says this work coincides with KiwiRail’s temporary closure of the Western Line.
“Safety is a key driver behind our decision as some of the activities require removal of the track or it takes place immediately adjacent to the track. If the trains were running, we would be encroaching on the allowable safety clearances. Ramping up working hours allows us to complete a big chunk of important work during the holiday break and reduces the need for us to do that in the future.” Mr Dudouit adds that like work at the tunnel portal, measures will be in places to reduce noise, vibration, light pollution and dust.
A map and a full list of works notifications for each specific area around the Mt Eden site is here.
From 23 December 2020 - 5 January 2021 the Mt Eden site office will be closed. If people do have questions or concerns, they can contact the Link Alliance’s Mt Eden Station team on phone: 0800 CRL TALK (275 8255) - choose option 5.
The Link Alliance is delivering CRL’s main stations, tunnels and rail services contract for City Rail Link Ltd. CRL is due to be completed in 2024, delivering widespread benefits for Auckland that include more frequent and quicker train services.
07 December 2020
“Thank you Auckland” says CRL after ‘boring’ day!
The City Rail Link (CRL) and the Link Alliance are thanking Aucklanders for their support after Sunday’s successful Boring Day Out event.
Thousands of people visited CRL’s Mt Eden construction site to see up close the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) named Dame Whina Cooper, and the start of mining for twin rail tunnels that will run under central Auckland.
“I want to thank everyone who came along – to see so many smiling faces reiterated the support for our work and the engineering skills behind it,” says Francois Dudouit, Project Director for CRL’s Link Alliance.
“The City Rail Link is Auckland’s’ project after all, and it was great to open the construction door a wee bit to give people a sneak peek of our work to bring big transport changes to the city.”
The Link Alliance is responsible for the largest package of work for the $4.4 billion project – completing the tunnels and stations and installing the systems needed to operate the new line safely. It will operate the TBM, which will start excavating the tunnels into central Auckland next April.
TBM’s traditionally are named after an influential woman to honour St Barbara, the patron saint of miners. New Zealanders voted for CRL’s TBM to be named in honour of Māori rights champion, Dame Whina Cooper.
Last Friday, Dame Whina’s daughter, Hinerangi Puru Cooper, led official celebrations to unveil and bless the TBM.
04 December 2020
Curtain opens on a new dawn for City Rail Link
A wide curtain burgundy red in colour was opened this morning to reveal state of the art technology that will drive the next stage of New Zealand’s largest transport infrastructure project, Auckland’s City Rail Link (CRL) .
The open curtain at CRL’s Mt Eden construction site gave Aucklanders their first sight of the big Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) named after Māori rights champion Dame Whina Cooper.
“Dame Whina Cooper’s public debut is a tremendous moment for the project and for Auckland,” says City Rail Link Ltd’s Chief Executive, Dr Sean Sweeney. “It is a symbolic signal for the start of hard work underground to build the CRL tunnels and stations that will transform the way Aucklanders can travel around their city.”
Dame Whina’s daughter, Hinerangi Puru Cooper, and her wider family were present at the unveiling and blessing of the TBM. They were joined by Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson, Transport Minister Michael Wood, the city’s Mayor Phil Goff, Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei and other Auckland Iwi who sit on CRL’s Mana Whenua Forum, and community, transport and CRL representatives.
Hinerangi said she was honoured and humbled to be present at the unveiling and had a special message for CRL workers. “I will say a prayer before you start your work – I want you to be safe – and I know my mother will be there with you.”
Mr Robertson said Dame Whina Cooper is a name that “gives a lot of mana to a project that was building a nation” and Mr Goff describes the unveiling as a “big step in the progress of a project that means much for a better Auckland.“ By tradition, machines working underground like CRL’s TBM carry the name of a woman.
“In our case New Zealanders helped us chose a truly exceptional person, Dame Whina Cooper – and the presence and support of her family is a real blessing for the project,” Dr Sweeney says.
Only the front section of the TBM, called the cutter head, was unveiled. The rest of the machine is still being assembled by the Link Alliance, which has the main CRL tunnel, stations and rail systems package - at the Mt Eden site after arriving in sections from China. Dr Sweeney says designs on the cutter head based on traditional symbols make the Dame Whina Cooper TBM unique.
The two hands embracing on the TBM iconography is an international gesture of sharing respect and friendship for one another – values shared by Dame Whina.
Three koru (fern) have a dual symbolism. The first, through the balanced shape represents how she supported harmony between all people in Aotearoa (New Zealand). The koru is also symbolic of new life – Dame Whina championed wahine (women) and the protection of tamariki (children).
A second woman of influence was also acknowledged at the event. The unveiling occurred on St Barbara’s Day. St Barbara is an early Christian martyr who is the patron saint of miners and others who work underground.
“For centuries miners all over the world have looked to St Barbara to keep them safe and CRL is no different – her statue oversees work at two of our sites,” Dr Sweeney says.
Work is underway to mine the first 50 metres of tunnel at Mt Eden to accommodate the reassembled TBM. The Link Alliance is due to start TBM mining next April – cutting the first of two underground tunnel 1.6 kilometres long from Mt Eden into central Auckland to connect with the CRL tunnel already built from the Britomart Station.
“Dame Whina’s legacy is one of determination and the importance of working together, values that fittingly apply to this project and our journey ahead to build a world class railway for Auckland,” Dr Sweeney says.
The $4.4 Billion CRL project, sponsored by the Crown and Auckland Council, will make the city’s rail network more efficient. Trains will be able to run more often and more quickly and the number of people living with 30 minutes train travel of central Auckland – New Zealand’s biggest employment hub – will double.
This Sunday, there will be an open day at Mt Eden – the Link Alliance’s Boring Day Out – for people to see the Dame Whina Cooper TBM. All 5,000 tickets for the event have been allocated.
30 November 2020
Ōtāhuhu provides glimpse of CRL’s future
The end of work to future ready the Ōtāhuhu Station for a modernised rail network when the City Rail Link (CRL) opens was celebrated formally today at the south Auckland station.
Improvements include construction of a third platform and passenger access at the station, 1.3-kilometres of new track alongside KiwiRail’s Southern line, four new crossovers to allow trains to switch between tracks, signals and a new overhead line to power trains.
“Ōtāhuhu gives Aucklanders a glimpse of their transport future and the world class rail network they’ll love to use once CRL opens,” says City Rail Link Ltd’s Chief Executive, Dr Sean Sweeney.
Auckland’s Mayor, Phil Goff, led the celebrations, describing the Ōtāhuhu works as a $50 million investment in the city’s transport network.
“As well as the immediate benefits for Ōtāhuhu Station users, the third platform helps unlock Auckland’s existing rail network to provide additional capacity to allow trains to run more frequently and more quickly when the City Rail Link opens in late 2024.”
“Together with other supporting projects like the third main, this will allow us to double the capacity of Auckland’s rail network. It will reduce journey times for passengers across Auckland, making it easier, faster and more convenient to get into, through and around the city and region.”
Ōtāhuhu is a construction collaboration involving KiwiRail, Auckland Transport and its contractor, Libbet Ltd, and City Rail Link Ltd.
KiwiRail’s Group Chief Executive Greg Miller says KiwiRail is proud to be playing a part in this transformational rail project which will provide a more reliable and resilient service as demand for train services increases.
“As the network owner, we have the technical knowledge and skills to facilitate these vital construction projects on the live network, and we are working closely with CRL and Auckland Transport to prepare for the opening of the CRL.”
Auckland Transport’s Executive General Manager of Integrated Networks, Mark Lambert, says that the opening of the third platform provides AT with more flexibility with services.
“The platform and new ticket hall will provide customers with an easier transfer between bus and train services at a major station in our connected public transport network”.
Ōtāhuhu is the latest in a series of locations on the wider network necessary to accommodate the huge changes coming with CRL. Track improvements were completed at the Strand (Parnell) last year, and similar works are planned at the entrance to Britomart Station, at Newmarket and on the Western Line.
Dr Sweeney says work at Ōtāhuhu and the other locations demonstrates the importance of collaboration.
“CRL is huge and it’s complex involving many, many people and companies, and showing how well we can work together is a big influence on the delivery of a successful project.”
CRL is New Zealand’s largest ever transport infrastructure project. The twin tunnels and underground stations being built in the heart of the city will be transformational, giving Aucklanders a more reliable and resilient train timetables and services.
20 November 2020
CRL’s “Boring Day Out” a sell out
Aucklanders have now snapped up all 5000 free tickets to get up close and personal with City Rail Link’s Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM).
Tickets to the “Boring Day Out” event were available online from 10am on Thursday, 19 November, and had sold out by Friday afternoon.
At the event on 6 December attendees will get to see the TBM – named after Māori rights activist Dame Whina Cooper – as well as the portal where the machine will start its underground journey next year.
“We’re so proud to be delivering a project that will bring massive benefits to Auckland and we’re pleased as punch at the huge level of support people have for the work we’re doing,” says Francois Dudouit, Project Director for the Link Alliance which is constructing CRL for City Rail Link Ltd.
“We knew that a lot of people wanted to get a sneak peek at our mechanical star, but we are thrilled by the huge demand when tickets did become available. Thank you!”
CRL’s “Boring Day Out” tickets available Thursday
18 November 2020
People wanting a close-up look at City Rail Link’s Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM), Dame Whina Cooper, can get their “Boring Day Out” tickets on-line from 10am tomorrow, Thursday, 19 November.
Tickets are free and will only be available through the iTicket booking agency at, https://www.iticket.co.nz/events/2020/dec/boring-day-out
A total of 5,000 tickets will be issued based on first-come first-served. People can have a maximum of five tickets each. The Link Alliance is hosting the “Boring Day Out” on Sunday, 6 December, at its Mt Eden construction site. There will be 10 visiting sessions – the first entry is at 9am and the last at 6pm. People will need to nominate the time they want to come when booking tickets.
Because Mt Eden is a live construction site and people’s safety is a priority, visitor numbers will be restricted to 500 for each session. The walk is 600 metres long and starts at the site entry on Ngahura Street, near New North Road.
Health and safety will be a priority on the day, says Francois Dudouit, Project Director for the Link Alliance which is constructing CRL for City Rail Link Ltd.
“We welcome everyone who wants to take an admiring look at Dame Whina Cooper, but before booking their tickets people should be aware of the conditions of entry in place to help them have a memorable time,” Mr Dudouit says.
“While the walk is flat and we are suspending work for the day, Mt Eden remains a construction site and care will be needed walking around it.”
The TBM is being reassembled on site and its huge front section, known as the shield, will be on display. The shield and its cutter head will do most of the heavy excavation below Auckland.
People will also see the southern tunnel portal where Dame Whina Cooper will start its underground journey next year to complete construction of the two CRL tunnels.
Mr Dudouit says there is strong interest from Aucklanders wanting to see the TBM and he reminds people to check the conditions of entry that will be listed on the iTicket website.
Event information:
There will be 10 visiting sessions on 6 December. The first entry is at 9am and the final one at 6pm. Visitor numbers will be restricted to 500 for each session.
Tickets are free and people can book up to five tickets per person.
People with wheelchairs, mobility scooters, prams/pushchairs and walking sticks are welcome.
Entry to the Mt Eden site will be via Ngahura Street near New North Road. Parking on site is limited to people with mobility parking permits.
People are encouraged to use public transport to travel to the event. They can plan their trip online using Auckland Transport’s Journey Planner at www.at.govt.nz. Bikes, scooters, skateboards, and other wheel-operated transport with the exception of mobility scooters, will not be allowed inside the event.
Although bikes and wheel operated transport equipment isn’t allowed in the event site, we also encourage people to ride your wheels! Our friends at Bike Auckland are providing their Bike Valet Service for the day.
Closed toe and flat shoes must be worn, and people should be prepared for dust and loud noises.
No food or drink is allowed but people are encouraged to support local businesses before and after the event.
The event is weather dependent and may be cancelled if Covid-19 alert levels change. Everyone must sign-in to the event using the Ministry of Health’s Covid-19 tracer app or by physically signing in.
Aucklanders’ chance for a “Boring Day Out”
12 November 2020
Aucklanders will next month get the chance to meet in person, Dame Whina Cooper, the giant tunnel boring machine (TBM) that is heading underground to complete construction of the two City Rail Link (CRL) tunnels.
Auckland’s “Boring Day Out” will be held at CRL’s Mt Eden construction site on Sunday, 6 December.
The TBM is named after the revered Māori rights activist, Dame Whina Cooper, and people will be able to see it close-up as well as see where it will start its underground journey next year from Mount Eden to the new Karangahape underground station and then on to the Aotea station in central Auckland.
“This will be a rare opportunity to see the star of New Zealand’s biggest-ever transport infrastructure project before it disappears underground,” said Francois Dudouit, Project Director for the Link Alliance which is constructing CRL for City Rail Link Ltd.
“This project has always been for Auckland and the “Boring Day Out” is one way we can say ‘thank you’ to Aucklanders for the support we get, as well as demonstrate state-of-the-art technology that will reshape the way we travel in this beautiful city”.
The TBM arrived in Auckland in parts from China and is being reassembled on site. Its front section, known as the cutter head, will be on display.
“As it crunches its way underground, it is the cutter head that does most of the heavy excavation,” says Mr Dudouit.
Plans for the Boring Day Out prioritise safety.
“Mt Eden is a construction site and we are determined to keep everyone safe while making sure people’s visit is one they’ll remember for the rest of their lives,” Mr Dudouit says.
There are no age restrictions for the event but people under 15 must be supervised by an adult. People with mobility issues are welcome. The walk is 600 metres long and the ground is flat, though there are some uneven surfaces.
Plans are still being finalised and details about where people can get tickets on-line will be announced next week.
Event information:
There will be 10 visiting sessions on 6 December. The first entry is at 9am and the final one at 6pm. Visitor numbers will be restricted to 500 for each session.
Tickets are free and people can book up to five tickets per person.
People with wheelchairs, mobility scooters, prams/pushchairs and walking sticks are welcome.
Entry to the Mt Eden site will be via Ngahura Street near New North Road. Parking on site is limited to people with mobility parking permits.
People are encouraged to use public transport to travel to the event. They can plan their trip online using Auckland Transport’s Journey Planner at www.at.govt.nz. Bikes, scooters, skateboards, and other wheel-operated transport with the exception of mobility scooters, will not be allowed inside the event.
Closed toe and flat shoes must be worn, and people should be prepared for dust and loud noises.
No food or drink is allowed but people are encouraged to support local businesses before and after the event.
The event is weather dependent and may be cancelled if Covid-19 alert levels change. Everyone must sign-in to the event using the Ministry of Health’s Covid-19 tracer app or by physically signing in.
CRL starts first stage of heritage “jigsaw”
11 November 2020
Work has started on the temporary removal of one of Auckland’s most historic landmarks to make room for the City Rail Link (CRL) project.
The 139-year-old bluestone wall in Albert Street in the city centre is being shifted block by block out of the way of CRL construction.
“While we’re building for Auckland’s future, we’re also determined to preserve its past,” says Matt Sinclair, Aotea Station Manager for the Link Alliance. “The bluestone wall will be put into storage until we’ve finished constructing the tunnel and Aotea Station and then we will be putting those blocks back in place and restoring a significant part of Auckland’s heritage.”
The historic wall is built from local material and was erected on the eastern side of Albert Street between Wyndham and Victoria Streets in 1881 at a time of significant infrastructure expansion in Auckland. The wall’s underground public toilet was one of the city’s first. The wrought iron railings, piers and the ornamental arch over the stairs on the side of the wall are some of Auckland’s last remaining examples of street furniture dating back to the Victorian age.
It will take about three months to dismantle the wall. Stonemasons are cutting it into 1800 blocks, numbering each block and storing them safely off-site until the wall is rebuilt in 2023 as part of urban realm improvements.
“It’s going to be a bit like fitting a jigsaw together except all our pieces will be rocks, not bits of cardboard or wood, there will be no missing pieces and we’ll know where every piece fits,” says Mr Sinclair.
Things will not be quite the same as they were, however, when the wall is re-erected. Because of the size of the tunnel and station, the wall will have to move one metre further east – towards Queen Street – from its original location. And the public toilet, which has been closed for some time, will not re-open. Its entrance will be used as a maintenance access for the CRL.
The new 150-metre-long section of tunnel being built by the Link Alliance will connect the new Aotea underground station with the tunnel already built from Britomart Station and under the lower end of Albert Street as far as Wyndham Street.
Modern CRL welcomes traditional guardian, Saint Barbara
04 November 2020
Mining tradition hundreds of years old was observed at dawn this morning when a statue of St Barbara, the patron saint of miners, was blessed and placed in a small shrine near the tunnel entrance at the City Rail Link Mt Eden site.
“We are a very modern project, but the old traditions remain important - welcoming St Barbara is a significant event for the team that will mine the tunnels,” says Francois Dudouit, Project Director for CRL’s Link Alliance. “Ceremonies like this have been repeated all over the world for centuries wherever people go to work underground. St Barbara is their guardian, and her presence gives assurance that they will be safe below ground.”
St Barbara was an early convert to Christianity who was discovered hiding underground and killed by her pagan father.
This morning’s blessing was led by the Most Reverend Michael Gielen, Auxiliary Bishop of Auckland for the Catholic Church.
The blessing, observed by Link Alliance workers kitted out in hard hats and protective clothing for the start of their day’s shift, is one that usually precedes the start of any new tunnelling or mining project (a statue of St Barbara also protects workers building the Karangahape underground station).
Work will start shortly mining the first 50 metres of tunnel at Mt Eden to accommodate the project’s big Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) for the start of its work to excavate the tunnel all the way to the new Aotea underground station in central Auckland.
The TBM – to be named after Māori activist Dame Whina Cooper – is being reassembled at Mt Eden after it arrived from a factory in China last month.
The Link Alliance - the group of New Zealand and international companies building the substantive tunnels and stations contract for CRL Ltd – will use the TBM to excavate two 1.6-kilometre-long tunnels from Mt Eden to link with the tunnels already dug from Britomart Station. Dame Whina Cooper is due to start the first of two excavations for New Zealand’s biggest transport infrastructure project next April.
Meanwhile, planning continues for a public open day at Mt Eden early next month to give Aucklanders a chance to meet the TBM. More details about ticket numbers and access to the site will be announced in mid-November.
Farewell - and welcome to a new look Albert Street
28 October 2010
The re-opening of the Albert Street/Wolfe Street intersection marks the end of City Rail Link’s work at the lower end of Albert Street and after five years the project is saying “farewell” to this section of central Auckland.
City Rail Link Ltd’s Chief Executive, Dr Sean Sweeney, acknowledges digging up the busy city street for rail tunnels took longer than expected and caused hardship for businesses in the area.
“It is never easy building a huge project like CRL in the middle of a city – disruption is inevitable. There have been robust discussions over the years, but we have worked hard with local businesses to find suitable solutions to offset impacts when work fell behind schedule including the introduction of rent assistances scheme for those who qualified,” Dr Sweeney says. “We hope we are leaving behind a rejuvenated and transformed street.”
Dr Sweeney thanked businesses and residents for their support.
“We cannot say ‘thank you’ enough - that support has played a big part in our work to transform wider Auckland and, at the same time, make this corner of the city a more attractive destination.”
Work on the section of CRL at the lower end of Albert Street began in late 2015. A trench was excavated down the middle of Albert Street between Customs and Wyndham Streets to build the project’s twin underground tunnels 350-metres long. At Commercial Bay they connected with the tunnel built from Britomart Station. Construction also involved relocating an important stormwater line and strengthening a section of a large sewer main.
Tunnel construction was completed in mid-2019, Albert Street was backfilled up to road level and then work began beautifying the street – building wider pavements, installing new street furniture and lighting, planting native trees were planted, and creating bus bays to upgrade public transport.
Dr Sweeney says the end to CRL work in the lower end of Albert Street is an important milestone.
“Historically it is where CRL’s construction began, but when you look ahead it’s a timely reminder that CRL is a transformational project for the whole of Auckland. Alongside that city-wide view we have a commitment to leave a positive legacy locally where we have had to put our spades into the ground.“
Dr Sweeney acknowledged the work of CRL’s contractors Connectus (a McConnell Dowell and Downer joint venture), and the support from Auckland Council and Auckland City Centre Advisory Board.
“We hope the improvements we’ve made will reshape this part of town into a dynamic place to visit. There is a lot here to enjoy – the shops, restaurants, cafes and places to grab a coffee on the run. We know that CRL will rejuvenate central Auckland – the lower end of Albert Street is the first glimpse of what that rejuvenation will look like,” Dr Sweeney says. From the Wyndham Street intersection, meanwhile, work continues to extend CRL further south along Albert Street to join the new Aotea underground station in the city centre.
Haere mai! City Rail Link welcomes early Christmas “gift”
21 October 2020
City Rail Link’s latest “employee” – the tunnel boring machine (TBM) known as Dame Whina Cooper – has arrived in Auckland after a voyage of more than nine thousand kilometres from its factory in southern China.
The machine to excavate the rail tunnels for New Zealand’s largest ever transport infrastructure project arrived in sections on board the BBC Orion and will now be trucked to the City Rail Link site in Mt Eden for reassembly.
“It’s a bit like getting a very early Christmas present,” says Francois Dudouit, Project Director for CRL’s Link Alliance. “Every part of the tunnel boring machine was neatly boxed away or bundled up in protective wrapping, and while we may know exactly what we’re getting there’s still plenty of excitement to come opening up everything and putting it all together again.”
City Rail Link Ltd’s (CRL Ltd) Chief Executive, Dr Sean Sweeney, says the TBM’s arrival signals an important transition for the project.
“A lot of our work until now has focussed on getting ready for the heavy work ahead. The building blocks are in place and the arrival of Dame Whina Cooper marks a symbolic crossover from those enabling works to the complex and hefty job of finishing our tunnels and stations – construction is ramping up quickly,” Dr Sweeney says.
Dame Whina Cooper also arrives with a Christmas dividend for Aucklanders. The project is planning an open day in December to allow people a close-up look of the machine that will help transform the way they can travel around the city.
“It’s a chance for us to say, ‘thank you’, for the fantastic support we get from the community, and to explain the work of the project’s very clever mechanical star and the big changes it is going to bring to Auckland,” Dr Sweeney says.
Further details of the open day will be announced next month.
Over the next few days a small convoy of trucks will transport the TBM from the port to Mt Eden, where it will be reassembled and retested before it starts tunnelling next year.
“The TBM was thoroughly tested before leaving China, but there will be further checks on site. It is very advanced technologically and we want to make sure we have a concrete-solid machine in place and ready to do the job it has been specifically designed for – operating in Auckland’s unique soil conditions to build CRL’s rail tunnels,” Mr Dudouit says.
The Link Alliance - the group of New Zealand and international companies building the substantive tunnels and stations contract for CRL Ltd – will use the TBM to excavate two 1.6-kilometre-long tunnels from Mt Eden to the CBD to link with the tunnels already dug from Britomart Station. The TBM has been designed to also remove tunnel spoil and install concrete segments to line those very tunnels.
Work will start later this week on the excavation of the first 51 metres of the tunnel at Mt Eden. The excavation of the cavern and trench provides room for the TBM to be fitted into position to take over mining.
TBM tunnelling is due to start next April. Before then, mining conventions will be observed when the reassembled TBM is blessed and formally named Dame Whina Cooper. Big machines working underground are traditionally named after inspirational women. Earlier this year New Zealanders voted for the TBM to be named in honour of the Māori rights champion, Dame Whina Cooper.
When tunnel excavation starts people will be able to keep track of Dame Whina Cooper’s progress. An on-line link will measure the TBM’s journey below Auckland in real time.
CRL helping “paint the scene” for Auckland’s Artweek
07 October 2020
New Zealand’s largest transport infrastructure project – Auckland’s City Rail Link (CRL) – is getting an artistic “makeover” and a splash of vibrant colour.
Four of the project’s construction sites are being used to help celebrate and promote Artweek Auckland and to showcase some of New Zealand’s best artistic talent.
“CRL’s usual palette is concrete and steel, but we are now going to add some vibrant colour into the mix by turning the hoardings and fence lines around our construction sites into open-air galleries to show off the work of highly talented creatives,” says Dr Sean Sweeney, Chief Executive of City Rail Link Ltd (CRL Ltd).
Auckland’s 10th Artweek starts this Saturday (10 October). The CRL hoardings, fence lines and shopfront windows have evolved into “exhibition spaces” to feature the work of visual artists, photographers, street artists, graphic designers and tattooists.
The spaces are located at the sites where the Link Alliance is building the project’s stations and tunnels at Aotea (central Auckland), Karangahape and Mt Eden. People can join free, guided walking around the sites to learn more about the artists and their work.
There will also be “dab” of sustainability at a fourth CRL site - the corner of Albert and Wolfe Streets in the central city – where storyteller artist Elliot Collins will reveal a text-based activation that uses wooden monuments made from salvaged CRL construction materials next Wednesday (14 October).
CRL’s involvement is welcomed by Artweek organiser, Deborah White.
“CRL’s a huge project and it has an equally huge canvas to use that will bring colour and talent to the public spaces and brighten up the streets around its construction sites to encourage people to pay a visit,” she says.
Dr Sweeney says long term CRL will be leave Auckland with a fantastic art-focussed legacy at its stations and in the areas around the stations.
“That’s a few years away and our open-air spaces are brilliant examples of what we can achieve now. I would encourage people to visit all the Artweek displays including our own, and to make sure they bring with them their curiosity,” he says.
Mining underway on country’s deepest station
30 September 2020
Auckland’s City Rail Link is moving to the next phase of accelerating work underground to build the country’s deepest rail station.
Mining of the tunnels at Karangahape Station recently began with an initial 15-metre-long connection to the caverns for the station’s platforms.
“This connection is short, but it will become an important and busy ‘construction artery’ for us providing access for people, machines and material,” says Dale Burtenshaw, Deputy Alliance Director for the Link Alliance.
The connection is being mined from the bottom of the temporary access shaft 18 metres deep, built on the site of the old Mercury Plaza food court.
The first stage of the connection is being mined by a large excavator. The arch-shaped connection will be 9.5 metres wide and eight metres high.
Specialised mining equipment known as a road header – a machine with a boom-mounted cutting head that rotates as it grinds through rock – will finish the connection before cutting further underground to mine the station platform tunnels.
The mined platform tunnels – that sit up to 35 metres underground - will be 217 metres long to accommodate nine-car trains.
“It’s a clear sign of work ramping up. Our focus is very much on welcoming the Tunnel Boring Machine at Karangahape Station at the end of next year on the first leg of its journey from Mt Eden,” Mr Burtenshaw says.
Karangahape Station is being built by the Link Alliance as part of the project’s main stations and tunnels contract for City Rail Link Ltd. It connects with twin CRL tunnels to the Mt Eden, Aotea and Britomart Stations, before linking up with Auckland’s wider rail network.
A Link Alliance innovation – a huge, acoustically insulated noise enclosure half the size of a rugby field towering over the access shaft – will play an important part in a 24-hour mining operation.
“The noise enclosure is a bit like a silencer on a car, reducing the impact of construction at street level in a busy part of the city around Karangahape Road,” Mr Burtenshaw says. “The enclosure muffles construction noise and gives us the flexibility to work longer hours to get the job underground done without disturbing neighbours living and working around us.”
Progress continues on other sections of the project at Karangahape.
Mercury Lane is the site of Karangahape’s main above-ground station building. Twenty of the 26 reinforced concrete panels known as diaphragm walls (d-walls) that are part of the building’s permanent underground walls have been completed here.
On the north side of Karangahape Road, at Beresford Square where the second station entrance is located, work to relocate power, gas, water, wastewater and telecommunication services is nearing completion.
The start of work to install six plunge columns through the centre of the square is now underway. Plunge columns are up to 40 metres deep and provide temporary support for the floor slabs during the construction of the various levels of the station. They are removed once the permanent walls and columns are completed.
CRL is planned to open in 2024, and will double the city’s rail capacity. It will carry 54,000 people an hour during peaks, reduce rail journey times and will double the number of Aucklanders living within 30 minutes of central Auckland, New Zealand’s biggest employment hub.
Lower Queen Street turns green
29 September 2020
City Rail Link (CRL) and Auckland Council today celebrated a significant step toward transforming lower Queen Street into a premier open space where people have priority over vehicles.
Auckland Mayor Phil Goff and City Rail Link Ltd Chief Executive Dr Sean Sweeney, teamed up to plant the first of five pōhutukawa that will take root in the people-friendly square being built in front of the Britomart Station between Customs Street and Quay Street.
Mayor Goff says the heart of downtown Auckland is being transformed into a vibrant public space.
“This square will be the centre of a busy crossroads for people on the move—close to Britomart Station, buses, the harbour and ferry terminals, offices and shops,” he says. “When all the trees have been planted, street furniture installed and the final tiles — which tell a story unique to Tāmaki Makaurau—have been laid, Aucklanders will be able to enjoy a welcoming, people-friendly destination.”
Today’s development is also welcomed by the group representing central Auckland businesses and residents.
“It’s great to see this significant public space getting close to completion in the city centre,” says Viv Beck, Chair of the Auckland City Centre Advisory Board. “It shows the value of quality and meaningful design, which has been enabled by city centre businesses and residents through the City Centre Targeted Rate.”
City Rail Link Ltd (CRL Ltd) is building the square on top of its twin rail tunnels that link Britomart with nearby Albert Street. CRL has almost completed the parallel transformation of the lower end of Albert Street into a more people-friendly location.
“CRL will have a huge impact on Auckland’s future, and this sort of improvement will be repeated at our other project sites - places that will be easy on the eye and attractive to visit,” Dr Sweeney says. “Pōhutukawa are our own Christmas tree, and we hope this one will have settled into its new home in time to flower for Aucklanders for the festive season.”
Through traffic will have no access to the square and there will be restricted access for service vehicles.
Construction of the lower Queen Street square is planned to be completed in December.
CRL “Flying the Flag” to prevent construction suicides
07 September 2020
New Zealand’s biggest transport infrastructure project, Auckland’s City Rail Link (CRL), is proud to support Mates in Construction’s “Fly the Flag” campaign this week to prevent suicides, particularly in the construction industry.
“CRL will be employing up to 1600 people at peak. Their mental health and wellbeing are just as important as ensuring their physical safety,” says City Rail Link Ltd’s General Manager Health, Safety, Environment & Sustainability, Rob Mair.
Mates in Construction is an organisation that began in Australia before crossing the Tasman last year to combat a high rate of suicide among New Zealand construction workers.
More than 200 New Zealand construction sites, including those that are building CRL, are flying special flags this week, which coincides with World Suicide Prevention Day on Thursday (10 September).
“Our project’s vision for health and safety is ‘Mahia te mahi, hei painga hei oranga mo tātou katoa’ – to do the work for the good of everyone. In addition to proudly displaying the Mates’ flag, sites being managed by our delivery partners – the Link Alliance, DSB-JV and Connectus – have programmes of events and toolbox talks to reinforce the message to all our workers that there is help available when the going gets tough,” Mr Mair says.
CRL’s long-term partnership with Mates in Construction will continue for the duration of the project, which is planned to be completed in 2024.
Mr Mair says a Mates Field Officer, Berhampore ‘B’ Peleti, is a regular at CRL sites and has trained 379 workers, with more to come.
With B’s support, our site teams are putting in place mental health networks to help identify and support any individuals who are struggling, and providing additional training to workers who will become local suicide awareness champions.
“We’re building a world class rail project for Auckland, and key to that is to make sure that when all our workers finish their shifts they get home to their family and friends safely,” Mr Mair says.
For more information about Mates in Construction contact Daniel Paul (021 400-993)
Information on Fly the Flag is available on-line at www.mates.net.nz/fly-the-flag
On its way! TBM passes big factory tests
20 August 2020
New Zealand’s largest transport infrastructure project is celebrating a significant milestone – Auckland’s City Rail Link (CRL) has formally accepted ownership of its big Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) after extensive factory tests in China.
“The successful factory assessment tests and the handover of the TBM to the Link Alliance is a very clear and strong indication that the CRL project can meet critical milestones in a Covid-19 world,” says Dr Sean Sweeney, Chief Executive of City Rail Link Ltd.
The tests were conducted on the fully constructed TBM by the German manufacturer, Herrenknecht, at its factory at Guangzhou in southern China.
“The TBM successfully underwent more than 500 tests to make sure everything works as it should. There is now great excitement that we are ready for the next step – to bring the TBM to Auckland,” says Francois Dudouit, Project Director for CRL’s Link Alliance.
Rigorous checks tested the TBM’s three big jobs underground: excavating the tunnels, transporting tonnes of excavated spoil to the surface, and installing the thousands of concrete panels that will line the tunnels.
“It is a unique, world class machine – an underground factory – purpose built to carve its way through Auckland’s sticky soil,” Mr Dudouit says. “Just about everything that moves was tested to make sure it can do the transformational job it’s been designed for.”
The TBM will be used by the Link Alliance – the group of New Zealand and international companies building the substantive tunnels and stations contract for City Rail Link Ltd – to excavate two tunnels side by side between Mt Eden and central Auckland to connect with cut-and-cover tunnels already constructed from Britomart Station.
The Link Alliance describes the TBM as big by international standards for rail projects. The revolving cutter head at the front of the TBM is 7.15 metres – slightly taller than one of Auckland Zoo’s adult giraffes – weighs 910 tonnes – that is roughly the equivalent of nine blue whales, the largest animal ever known to have existed – and at 130 metres stretches the length of a rugby field.
The TBM is now being dismantled and will be shipped in pieces to New Zealand. It is due to arrive in October. The arrival has been delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic which forced the closure for several weeks earlier this year of the factory in China.
The TBM will be reassembled at CRL’s Mt Eden site, where it will undergo further testing and be officially blessed for safe journeys before it starts the first of its two excavation drives next April. Both tunnels are one-point-six kilometres long and each TBM drive will take about nine months.
Mining tradition will be observed before the start of tunnelling when the TBM is formally named after an inspirational woman. Earlier this year New Zealanders voted for the TBM to be named in honour of the Māori rights champion, Dame Whina Cooper.
Night works necessary at busy Customs St West intersection
23 July 2020
Overnight works are necessary from this Sunday, 26 July, to improve the busy Customs Street West/Albert Street intersection in central Auckland for road users and pedestrians. Sunday’s night works will start at 7pm until 5am. Overnight hours will be 8pm until 5am from next Monday, 27 July, until Thursday, 30 July.
Working overnight is a safer option because traffic volumes will be lower on the key city arterial route and there will be no disruption during busier daylight hours. Resurfacing the intersection will be completed in stages and contractors will have traffic management plans in place to ensure people can continue to use Customs Street West safely. Access to Albert Street will be affected, and diversions and closures will be signed posted.
A section of the two City Rail Link (CRL) tunnels have been built under the intersection, and the resurfacing is part of wider improvements CRL is progressing along the lower end of Albert Street. The noisiest part of the resurfacing work will be completed at the start of overnight shifts to help minimise the impact of the work on people nearby.
Contractors say they will follow their programme of work as closely as possible but warn unforeseen circumstances like adverse winter weather may force changes.
People can contact Aude Salmon at aude.salmon2@mcdgroup.com or 0800 CRL TALK (choose option 2) for more information about the work.
Work starting on the country’s deepest railway station
18 July 2020
Construction has started on New Zealand’s deepest railway station – City Rail Link’s Karangahape underground station in Auckland.
Work will start in Mercury Lane on the first of 28 panels for the diaphragm or D walls, the first permanent sections of the station to be constructed.
“It’s another tremendous step forward for a project that will bring big changes for Aucklanders,” says Dale Burtenshaw, Deputy Project Director for the Link Alliance.
Karangahape Station will be 30 metres deep – the deepest of all the CRL stations.
Karangahape Station’s Mercury Lane site, showing the red bentonite plant, and the temporary shaft that will be used to dig down to the station.
Mr Burtenshaw says D wall construction follows five months of demolition work and another four months of preparatory work in Mercury Lane.
Twin rotating blades on a machine known as a hydrofraise are making narrow cuts in the ground that will eventually be filled with concrete for the D walls. Some of the walls will be installed 35 metres below ground. It will take ten weeks to install them all in Mercury Lane.
Mr Burtenshaw says station construction will involve a lot of innovation.
After the installation of the D Walls, a roof and supporting columns will be built and then the dirt will be removed for the station’s concourse and platforms.
“Working top-down like this will reduce the impact of construction at street level in a busy part of the city like K Road,” Mr Burtenshaw says. “At the same time, using a hydrofraise allows us to operate close to other buildings without disturbing those buildings. We’ve also fitted mufflers to the machine to reduce noise levels for our neighbours.”
Karangahape will connect with tunnels to the Mt Eden, Aotea and Britomart Stations, and then link up to Auckland’s wider rail network.
Work on the Aotea Station in central Auckland began last month. CRL is planned to open in 2024. It will double the city’s rail capacity. It will carry 54,000 people an hour during peak times, reduce rail journey times and will double the number of Aucklanders living within 30 minutes of central Auckland, New Zealand’s biggest employment hub.
Karangahape is being built by the Link Alliance as part of the project’s main stations and tunnels contract for City Rail Link Ltd.
CRL’s ‘big build’ ramps up at Mt Eden
08 July 2020
Mt Eden’s ‘big build’ for the City Rail Link (CRL) project will ramp up when the Mt Eden train station and its access points close on Saturday (11 July).
The nationwide Covid-19 lockdown has delayed the station’s closure by some five weeks.
“We’re now clear to get cracking on a number of construction fronts to transform Mt Eden and wider Auckland,” says Dale Burtenshaw, Deputy Project Director for CRL’s Link Alliance.
“We’ve already taken measures, including bumping up shift hours, to help maintain construction momentum so that Aucklanders can use their brand-new station as planned in 2024.”
Mt Eden’s construction footprint is extensive. It includes the relocation and large-scale redevelopment of the station, launching the project’s Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM), removing dirt from the TBM’s excavations, constructing new overbridges, and connecting the CRL tunnels with the Western Line rail corridor.
“Our construction site will be huge, complex and busy – 500 will be working there at our peak,” Mr Burtenshaw says. “Sunday’s closure is necessary because there will be no safe way for trains and people to continue to use the Mt Eden Station.”
Auckland Transport’s free 64 bus service is a new travel option for people who use the station, and track changes made by KiwiRail will allow commuter services on the Western Line to continue to run safely on a single line through the Mt Eden construction zone.
People who walk through the station or use the Fenton Street/Ngahura Street level crossing need to follow sign-posted detours. CRL is New Zealand’s largest transport infrastructure project. Mt Eden is one part of the Link Alliance’s main station and tunnels contract for City Rail Link Ltd’s task to reshape and rejuvenate Auckland’s public transport network. Some 30 empty buildings were demolished, and an historic kauri cottage relocated to clear the Mt Eden site for CRL.
The intensified programme of work includes the use of a larger than life piling rig. The hefty machine is the largest in New Zealand - 26 metres long, 27 metres high and weighs an estimated 110 tonnes. It will be used to build a retaining wall alongside the main railway line. Local schoolchildren have been asked to name the rig before it starts work in August. A smaller rig is already in action driving concrete piles between 38 metres and eight metres long into the ground to support a 127-metre-long retaining wall for CRL‘s southern tunnel portal.
Deep trenches are being excavated in front of the portal. One will be used as the launching pad for Dame Whina Cooper, the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) arriving from China later this year. When the TBM has mined two tunnels through to central Auckland, both trenches will connect CRL to the Western Line and the new Mt Eden Station. Four new overbridges will be built. Two are road-over-rail links – one replacing the existing Normanby Road level crossing and the other a duplicate to sit beside the existing Mt Eden Road bridge.
The other two overbridges are dedicated for pedestrians and cyclists at Porters Avenue and between Fenton and Ngahura streets. Excluding tunnel excavations, 20-thousand cubic metres of volcanic basalt and 160-thousand cubic metres of dirt will be removed from the site. More than 50-thousand cubic metres of concrete and over 10-thousand tonnes of steel will be used in the rebuild.
“When you look at the size of the construction programme it’s both a breath-taking and an exciting challenge that will make a huge difference to Auckland’s future,” Mr Burtenshaw says. Despite the scale and scope of work, Mr Burtenshaw says the Link Alliance is committed to minimising disruption and to keeping neighbours safe and informed. Strict protocols will be in place regarding traffic management, noise, vibration and dust.
Mr Burtenshaw says people with questions or concerns are invited to phone the Link Alliance on 0800 CRL TALK (option 5 for Mt Eden) or email mteden@linkalliance.co.nz. From Mt Eden Station, the 3.45-kilometre-long CRL will run under the Newton ridge and the central motorway junction to new underground stations at Karangahape and Aotea in central Auckland and the redeveloped Britomart Station in lower Queen Street.
CRL is a significant project contributing to Auckland’s future growth. When completed in 2024 it will give Aucklanders a world class rail network with improved access to more trains and faster journeys in and out of central Auckland.
Green light for country’s busiest railway station
23 June 2020
First steps were taken today to construct what will be New Zealand’s busiest railway station - City Rail Link’s Aotea underground station in central Auckland.
Transport Minister, Phil Twyford, and Auckland’s Mayor, Phil Goff, donned hard hats and protective jackets to oversee a ceremonial start to work that clears the way for the first of the station’s walls.
They switched on a 90-tonne ground cutting machine known as a hydrofraise that will make first cuts in the ground for the walls.
Mr Twyford says the event marks a further big step forward for CRL.
“CRL is a huge project helping to provide much needed stimulus to the economy and guaranteed jobs.
“Initiatives like extending working hours has allowed the project to quickly ramp up construction momentum after the Covid-19 lockdown and allows us to celebrate today’s milestone for a project that will deliver so much now and in the future,” Mr Twyford says.
The first walls for the Aotea station are being built outside the Auckland Council’s offices at the Wellesley Street/Albert Street/Mayoral Drive intersection. Mayor Goff says the station will transform the city centre.
Aotea’s innovative design, which tells the unique stories of Tāmaki Makaurau, has already won international recognition and will be a striking addition to central Auckland,” Mr Goff says.
“When it opens, CRL will double the number of people able to travel into and through the city centre, carrying up to 54,000 people an hour during peak times. The project will create a better Auckland, reducing traffic congestion and transforming our city centre into a vibrant place to spend time in.” Aotea Station will be 15 metres deep and 300 metres long. Preparations are being finalised for the start of wall construction next week when the twin rotating blades on the hydrofraise will cut narrow trenches into the ground. The trenches will eventually be filled with concrete for diaphragm or D walls that will support the station. Most of the station’s foundation walls will be D walls - in total, 152 panels will be installed up to 21 metres deep.
Aotea’s walls and roof are being constructed first and dirt will then be removed for the station platforms and concourse. Working top-down will reduce the impact of construction at street level.
The Wellesley Street intersection closed earlier this year so that utilities could be moved before station construction started. Aotea’s hydrofraise is a CRL “veteran” and was used earlier on the CRL project inside and outside the Chief Post Office heritage building at Britomart in Lower Queen Street. The machine is named Sandrine in honour of a woman who has worked for a CRL contractor.
Aotea will connect with tunnels to the Britomart and Karangahape Stations, and then link up to Mt Eden Station and Auckland’s wider rail network. CRL will double the city’s rail capacity. It will carry 54,000 people an hour during peak times, reduce rail journey times and will double the number of Aucklanders living within 30 minutes of central Auckland, New Zealand’s biggest employment hub. When CRL opens, Aotea is expected to be New Zealand’s busiest railway station with trains running up to every 10 minutes.
Aotea is being built by the Link Alliance as part of the project’s main stations and tunnels contract for City Rail Link Ltd.
Tackling the unexpected below Auckland’s streets
12 June 2020
Just a few metres below ground lies a “spider’s web” stretching right across Auckland that is essential to keep a contemporary city working.
The underground web is “woven” together by modern-day arteries and veins - tens of thousands of metres of pipes, tubes, wires and ducting that carry gas, water, electricity, the internet and sewage and waste that a functioning Auckland needs. Essential as all those underground utilities are, many for a project like City Rail Link need to be relocated.
“Relocating utilities is our first cab off the rank if you like – our first big task, an absolute priority, before the heavy construction machinery can move in,” says Dale Burtenshaw, Deputy Project Director for the Link Alliance delivering the main stations and tunnels contract for City Rail Link Ltd.
Utilities diversions for CRL’s Aotea Station in central Auckland started last September and will continue for some time yet.
“While we construct on a huge scale, we’re reducing the risk of cutting an internet connection to a block of apartments, losing power to cafes and offices, or flooding roads and footpaths during a storm.”
“Relocation is technical and challenging work demanding a lot of planning and integration. At times we are working with utilities up to eight metres deep, and often with half a dozen different utilities services/providers which all require coordination with each other,” Mr Burtenshaw says.
Relocating utilities at Aotea has uncovered some buried gems from Auckland’s past - a disused well, a boiler, and bricks from a demolished hall – but not all the surprises found below ground are an historical bonus. While most of the utilities “web” is well mapped and contractors know exactly where to dig, that is not always the case as Link Alliance Site Engineer Abhi Amin discovered. “What a reminder to any construction site to always remember to expect the unexpected!”
“There was a map alright, but what it was telling us and what we actually discovered were two very different things,” Abhi says. The map related to a pipe of natural gas running at right angles from a main under Albert Street to the Crowne Plaza hotel and a neighbouring office block. The pipe was located in the ceiling of a service lane running below Albert Street.
“That pipe wasn’t in our scope – not buried below the service lane where we thought it would be. Its location was exactly where we didn’t want it to be - in the ceiling right in the way of our planned piling for a D or Diaphragm wall to support the new station,” says Abhi. “Shifting it quickly became a critical part of the construction programme.”
Safely relocating the gas in a 70-metre-long trench underground was a complex operation that called on Abhi’s skills as an engineer – and as a communicator.
“The job didn’t look hard of paper, but everything about it was complex. There were a lot of consents needed, a clear route had to be found around other utilities for the new pipe, and a lot of people needed to be kept informed – the hotel, the offices next door, and all the people who relied on the service lane for access and parking.”
Good communication with the neighbours paid dividends for the Link Alliance.
“During the gas main relocation project, their team kept us well-informed every step of the way and ensured their plans took into account our needs,” says Tony Rose, Director of Colwall Property Investment Ltd which owns the Crowne Plaza and Atrium complex. “This enabled us to continue our business operations with minimal impact.”
Dale Burtenshaw says promoting clear communications is an important commitment for the Link Alliance.
“Disruption – whether it’s a temporary footpath or an intersection like Wellesley Street in the city centre closed to traffic – is unavoidable for New Zealand’s largest transport infrastructure project. But providing good and timely information to our immediate neighbours and to the wider city 24/7 is a priceless objective to allow us to get the job done smoothly and as quickly as possible – that’s a commitment to everyone that will not change.”
Mr Burtenshaw says the work of Abhi’s team tackling the unexpected ticked a lot of boxes.
“The gas line was safely relocated and clearly mapped, people received timely information about the work, we’ve had positive feedback, the way is now clear to start D-wall construction for Aotea – job well done,” Mr Burtenshaw says.
Albert Street turning a new shade of green
8 June 2020
City Rail Link (CRL) and Auckland Council today celebrated a significant step towards developing a more modern and attractive Albert Street.
The Mayor, Phil Goff, and City Rail Link Ltd’s Chief Executive, Dr Sean Sweeney, teamed up to plant a pōhutukawa – the first of 23 mature native trees that will line a new-look Albert Street between the Wyndham and Customs Street intersections.
Mayor Goff says CRL and the improvements in street-scaping above the tunnel will bring huge improvements to Auckland.
“After the disruption caused by the construction, we are seeing some real benefits for Albert Street,” Mr Goff says. “The wider paved footpaths with a lot more room for pedestrians and the planting of mature trees will make the street much more pleasant.
“CRL will also completely transform people’s ability to get into and around the city centre. It will double the number of passengers able to be carried by rail and make the journeys much quicker. The stations will be landmark features of our city, telling its story and reflecting the 21st Century transport system the city needs,” says Mr Goff.
Albert Street’s restoration follows construction of twin rail tunnels below the surface of the road – one of the first programmes of CRL works. “One tree planted today will be followed by many more,” Dr Sweeney says “CRL will have a huge impact on Auckland’s future and upgrades like Albert Street will be repeated at our other sites – places that will be both easy on the eye, and attractive and safe to visit.”
Twenty-three trees – totara, golden totora, pohutukawa, black marie and puriri – will be planted as part of the Albert Street upgrade. Other improvements being made by CRL include wider footpaths, new lighting and street furniture, open spaces, improvements for cyclists, and dedicated bus bays to support public transport at road level. The people-friendly improvements being made to Albert Street by CRL will be completed at the end of this year.
Over 80 hours of work sees critical step forward to Mt Eden CRL construction
02 June 2020
KiwiRail’s successful installation of a new scissor crossing over Queen’s Birthday weekend marks an important step forward in enabling the Mt Eden end of City Rail Link’s (CRL) works.
Working around the clock, KiwiRail and its contractors connected one of the largest crossings on the metro network which will enable trains to keep running while major construction for the CRL continues next to the tracks says KiwiRail Chief Operating Officer Todd Moyle.
"The new track layout is an essential change which will ultimately allow CRL workers the space needed to do their job safely while commuter and freight trains continue to travel along the Western Line.”
"It is part of preparing Auckland’s network for the City Rail Link opening in 2024. By removing a pinch point and creating more flexible track use, the scissor crossover will allow trains to switch tracks when travelling in either direction and is critical to improving reliability as train frequency increases.”
"Upgrading the network while meeting commuter needs and being mindful of our neighbours is challenging. We work with Auckland Transport to plan when we can do our work to reduce overall disruption as much as possible.”
"To complete this job we needed over 80 hours of train-free track access to install the new track system.”
"Our team also built the unique crossing off site to enable it to be installed as quickly as possible. It took seven days to build and had to be craned into position. Sitting on 6m long concrete sleepers that span two tracks the new track was installed in 11 different sections - the heaviest being over 25 tonnes or the equivalent of two single decker buses.”
KiwiRail’s staff and contractors had been working in the area since June last year and have now returned to the site following the COVID-19 lockdown.
"We’ve introduced appropriate COVID-19 safety protocols, and we’ll be working hard over the coming months to catch up on the delays caused by the lockdown.”
"Most of our work can only be done when the line is closed to trains, and we’re doing everything we can to get the job done with the least disruption. We thank commuters and neighbours for their understanding as we work hard to complete these essential works that will in time enable more services in the region."
Link Alliance, which is building the City Rail Link (CRL) tunnels and stations for City Rail Link Ltd, says KiwiRail’s work is a critical part of the project.
"The work completed is crucial to the Link Alliance’s construction in Mt Eden. It means that a single line can run through Mt Eden while we undertake construction in the rail corridor for the new rail trenches and redeveloped station. We’ll be able to complete our construction safely while train users continue their journeys past Mt Eden," says Dale Burtenshaw, Deputy Project Director for Link Alliance.
The City Rail Link (CRL) is New Zealand’s largest infrastructure project and will provide a better connection between the west and central city. KiwiRail is working closely with CRL and Auckland Transport to ensure the project’s success.
Plan for busy CRL works during Queen’s Birthday holiday
25 May 2020
Aucklanders are advised to plan for some disruption to travel in parts of the city during the Queen’s Birthday holiday weekend because of a busy programme of City Rail Link (CRL) related works.
Disruption will affect both rail travellers and some roads. City Rail Link Ltd, Link Alliance, Auckland Transport and KiwiRail have worked together to co-ordinate plans and minimise disruption.
Mt Eden
In the Mt Eden area, the installation of a new track system will ultimately allow Link Alliance to start work to connect the CRL tunnels to the Western Line and to rebuild Mt Eden Station. To enable the tunnel and connections to be built the Porters Avenue rail crossing just west of the station will close permanently to vehicle traffic this Friday (29 May), and over Queen’s Birthday buses will replace trains on the Western Line.
Queen’s Birthday marks the start of several weekend line closures. Most construction can only be completed safely when no trains are running. CRL’s four-year Mt Eden works programme includes shifting underground utilities, laying four tracks instead of the present two, and building a trench for two of those tracks to connect with the tunnels. When Mt Eden Station closes for redevelopment in July trains will continue to run on a single line through the station with little disruption to existing timetables.
Over Queen’s Birthday, diversions will be in place for road users during the temporary closure of the Normanby Road level crossing and a partial closure of Boston Road between Auburn Street and Severn Road intersections. The closures will allow contractors to install electrical ducts and lift the new track into place. Access to all businesses and properties will be maintained and detours will be signposted.
Work along Fenton Street will also be underway. From Thursday, 28 May, Link Alliance will start work to divert Auckland’s Huia 2 watermain and other utilities away from the rail corridor.
Ōtāhuhu
Contractors will install over-head electrical lines for one of the four new track crossovers or junctions on the Southern Line as part of an CRL-related upgrade of Ōtāhuhu Station. To do this safely, the line south of Penrose Station will be closed and power switched off for existing over-head electrical lines.
Work at other CRL sites over the long weekend is not expected to cause travel disruption.
New dates for CRL Mt Eden closures after lockdown
20 May 2020
New dates have been set for two significant closures in Mt Eden – Mt Eden Station and the adjoining Porters Avenue railway crossing - for City Rail Link (CRL) construction.
Porters Avenue will close permanently to vehicle traffic on Friday, 29 May, and the station will close on Saturday, 11 July, until CRL is completed in 2024.
The closures were delayed by the recent Covid-19 lockdown, which stopped work on all New Zealand’s construction sites.
“We’re up and running again and action we’ve taken to increase work hours will help maintain construction momentum and will minimise the impact of the lockdown on our overall timetable,” says Dale Burtenshaw, Deputy Project Director for Link Alliance building the stations and tunnels for City Rail Link Ltd.
Extensive works are planned around the station area by Link Alliance and KiwiRail: relocating utilities, re-developing Mt Eden Station, laying four tracks instead of the present two, excavating a trench for two of those tracks to connect with the CRL tunnels, and building traffic and pedestrian bridges.
Mr Burtenshaw says the decision to close Mt Eden Station for four years was not made lightly.
“Our priority is safety and if the station remains open there is a risk to workers and the public walking through what will be a live and complex construction site. Building a temporary station was also investigated but there was not enough room inside our construction zone.”
Western Line trains in both directions will continue to run on a single line through the construction zone but will not stop at Mt Eden. Auckland Transport (AT) says single line running will have little impact on rail timetables, and a free bus service will also be introduced for people who use the station.
PORTERS AVENUE (closing 29 May)
Mr Burtenshaw acknowledges that closing Porters Avenue to vehicles permanently will be inconvenient.
“The extra lines and all the other changes mean it will not be possible to maintain a safe rail crossing for vehicles between Porters Avenue and Wynyard Road, even when we’ve finished construction.”
Access to businesses on Porters Avenue and nearby Fenton and Haultain Streets will remain open. Suggested new routes include New North Road or View and Wynyard Roads.
Access across the level crossing for people on foot, or with a bike, mobility aid, scooter or pram will be maintained until a footbridge is built.
“We will make the level crossing as safe as possible but ask that people take care on the uneven surface,” Mr Burtenshaw says.
MT EDEN STATION (closing 11 July)
To help maintain public transport connections, AT will operate a free bus service between Kingsland and Newmarket past Mt Eden Station. The new 64 route will begin on Sunday, 5 July.
“The 64 route fills in the missing connection between Mt Eden and Newmarket, while providing new connections for those in the surrounding suburbs,” says AT’s Executive General Manager of Integrated Services, Mark Lambert. “We’re making the 64 service free, recognising the inconvenience of the station closure to residents and commuters in the area.”
Buses will run on 15 minute intervals between 7am-7pm every day. The service will be less frequent outside those hours, matching rail timetables.
Upgrading Mt Eden Station and creating new opportunities beside it for housing and commercial development are key parts of CRL’s contribution to Auckland’s future growth. When completed, CRL will give Aucklanders access to more trains and faster journeys in and out of central Auckland.
For more information on AT’s free 64 bus route visit: At.govt.nz/mtedenstation
CRL action to help get economy “pumping”
12 May 2020
City Rail Link is taking immediate action to implement new construction measures to help ensure that New Zealand’s largest transport infrastructure project is completed on time and within budget despite the Covid-19 pandemic.
During the level 4 lockdown, work on the project still pushed ahead with a lot of crucial work completed from home - including building consents, designs and planning - which enabled the project to be able to come out of the starting blocks quickly.
“I think we have come out of the lockdown pretty well – apparently faster than most projects – but one thing is certain, Covid-19’s legacy means CRL is now going to be a very different project than it was two months ago,” says City Rail Link’s Chief Executive, Dr Sean Sweeney.
Even with a strong restart, Dr Sweeney says the challenges of Covid-19 are unprecedented and the project must do all it can to respond to these, keep the project on track, and support the economic recovery of New Zealand.
“This pandemic is a 1-in-a -100-year event – something that none of us could have anticipated. I’m proud of what the project has been able to achieve in these different and uncertain times. But we still have to keep finding ways to respond and adapt to a very different way of working for who knows how long.
“This project plays a key role in the economic recovery post-Covid-19. The scale of CRL means there is so much we can do right now and into the future to create much needed jobs and to help get the economy pumping again.”
Dr Sweeney says Covid-19 has presented a number of challenges to the project including delays related to no work, planned April closures to advance construction could not go ahead, and more than 40 project workers remain overseas unable to get to New Zealand.
As well, stringent new health and safety protocols impact on the way CRL’s construction sites work – access is restricted, self-distancing rules must be observed, more protective clothing is needed, and sanitising and cleansing regimes are in place.
“The project is taking a number of steps to respond to these challenges and maintain construction momentum, help kickstart the economy and get this important project delivered as quickly as possible,” Dr Sweeney says.
From next Monday (18 May), Link Alliance will implement double shifts and extend working hours for up to 16 hours a day at its Mt Eden and Karangahape sites - 7am to 10pm Monday-to-Friday, and 7am to 7pm Saturday. Existing work hours are 7am-7pm Monday-to-Friday and 7am-2pm Saturday.
“The new Health and Safety measures are there to protect workers, and the wider community, but they also affect productivity. Moving to double shifting will enable us to regain the construction momentum we need to achieve a higher level of productivity in the Covid-19 context and to play a bigger part in the country’s economic re-build,” says Dr Sweeney.
“Operating two shifts on a site means more people working and more money in their pockets to go and spend locally.”
Link Alliance will revise plans that cover construction issues including traffic management, disruption and noise and vibration and noisy works will finish before 7pm wherever possible. Mats to absorb noise will be used, flashing beacon lights on machinery turned off to reduce light nuisance, and workers will be told to leave sites quietly at night.
“We’re very mindful of our obligations under legally binding consent conditions and of the great support we get from our neighbours and the wider community. That hasn’t changed. Even if face-to-face catchups remain difficult, our priority is to keep neighbours and community organisations well informed through a whole raft of different communication channels so they know what we are up to,” Dr Sweeney says.
City Rail Link Ltd is also working with the Government to try to have the project declared an essential service on economic grounds. This would enable the workers overseas workers to be able to return to New Zealand and after a two-week quarantine period be working on the project again.
“If we able to persuade the Government to support our request, those CRL workers overseas together with their skills should find it easier to get to New Zealand.”
With work on the project back underway City Rail Link has assessed the timetable of key milestones across the sites:
Britomart/Lower Queen Street: Paving the pedestrian plaza in front of the heritage-listed Chief Post Office to be completed as planned late this year; completion of the Chief Post Office refurbishment now expected early 2021; planning is underway to regain some of the time lost
Albert Street (between Customs Streets and Wynyard Street): Contractors have made up some time lost by the lockdown and are focussing additional resources and effort to finish street improvements, returning Albert Street to the public by Christmas as planned
Aotea (central Auckland): Slight delay in setting up the main site compound office; catch-up work to divert utilities continues at pace.
Karangahape (up-town): Slight delay to tunnel-related work and construction of a noise enclosure on the station site; good progress on utility diversions in front of closed shops without impacting on businesses
Mt Eden: Planned closures of Mt Eden Station and adjoining Porters Avenue rail crossing delayed several weeks - Porters Avenue will close to all vehicle traffic on 29 May, and the Station in late July (date to be confirmed). Planned arrival of Tunnel Boring Machine from China delayed until late 2020; start of tunnelling delayed in early 2021
Ōtāhuhu (joint CRL/KiwiRail contract on Southern rail line): Plans are underway to complete works delayed by the lockdown with the objective of finishing this August as planned.
Dr Sweeney says CRL Ltd has also started work on a more detailed investigation of the lockdown’s impact on project timings and costs.
“That work will take several months, and the outcome will depend on the health of the economy, how our suppliers here at home and overseas are faring, and on international efforts to curb COVID-19. CRL is important for Auckland’s future and the measures announced today are an important first step to keep to our timetable and to our budget.”
“Remarkable” Dame Whina Cooper wins CRL vote
06 May 2020
City Rail Link’s Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) will share the name of one of New Zealand’s most inspirational leaders, Dame Whina Cooper, a woman who spent most of an illustrious life leading the fight for social justice and land rights for Māori.
Dame Whina Cooper’s name topped a nationwide poll ahead of internationally recognised Antarctic scientist, Dr Margaret Bradshaw, and the world’s first elected openly transgender mayor and Member of Parliament, Georgina Beyer.
“The project is both proud and honoured that our TBM will carry the name of a woman of such mana – Dame Whina Cooper,” said City Rail Link Ltd’s Chief Executive, Dr Sean Sweeney.
“We were looking for the name of a New Zealand woman who inspired - brave, compassionate and fearless - and all those outstanding leadership qualities are well and truly represented by the very remarkable Dame Whina Cooper.” Dame Whina’s family welcomes their mother’s new association with a project that will bring many changes to the Auckland she had called her home for many years.
“Mum was very much a people person,” says Dame Whina’s daughter Hinerangi Puru Cooper.
“She had so much energy and was heavily involved in community projects across Auckland. But to us she was just mum.” Dame Whina was born in 1895 at Panguru, Northland, and died in 1994. She began her first campaigns for Māori as a teenager before moving to Auckland in 1949 where she was identified as one of the “100 Makers of Auckland” in a book featuring influential people who helped develop the city.
Dame Whina was the first president of the Māori Women’s Welfare League and played a significant role in improving Māori living conditions across New Zealand.
In 1975 aged 80, she led a land rights march from the Far North to Parliament. She was made a Dame in 1981 and was awarded the country’s highest honour, the Order of New Zealand, in 1991. Dame Whina, Dr Bradshaw and Ms Beyer were the shortlisted finalists selected from more than 300 women’s names nominated by New Zealanders.
Around 3,500 participated in the competition with Dame Whina Cooper securing just under 50 per cent of the final total vote.
“I am grateful to all New Zealanders for their support and their nominations and votes, particularly at a time when we were all grappling with a pandemic. I would also like to thank Dr Bradshaw and Ms Beyer for allowing their names to be considered for our TBM.” Dr Sweeney said.
Tradition dictates that a TBM must have a woman’s name - a sign of good luck and safety for the project ahead and an acknowledgement to Saint Barbara, the patron saint of those who work underground.
CRL’s TBM is due to arrive in kitset sections from China in October.
It will be reassembled at the Link Alliance project site at Mt Eden. The newly named Dame Whina Cooper TBM will be blessed before the Link Alliance starts the first of two 1.6-kilometre underground excavations from Mt Eden to the Aotea Station in the central city to connect with the twin tunnels already built from Britomart Station and under Albert Street.
“Strong and safe” restart at CRL construction sites
27 April 2020
There will be increased activity around all City Rail Link sites in Auckland tomorrow as construction resumes on New Zealand’s largest transport infrastructure project after the five week-long-COVID-19 lockdown.
All six CRL sites are reopening – Lower Queen Street/Britomart, Albert Street between Wyndham and Custom Streets, Aotea, Karangahape and Mt Eden in the inner-city area, and at Ōtāhuhu where there is a project-related contract with KiwiRail.
“We are all ready for a strong and safe restart,” says City Rail Link Ltd’s Chief Executive, Dr Sean Sweeney. “The prep work completed at our sites during the past week together with planning and design work done from home by our backroom teams during the lockdown will all contribute to a successful return to work.
“Given the project’s size and the contribution it can make, getting back to work quickly will be a significant and important contribution to the revival of the New Zealand economy.”
Dr Sweeney says around 200 workers in total will be working at all sites tomorrow. The number is expected to increase to 400 by the end of the week, the same level that existed before the lockdown began.
“Our priority is the safety of our construction teams and the wider community. At morning start-up and toolbox meetings workers will be briefed about stringent new health and safety protocols before they make a successful start to their shifts. Those rules cover things like access to sites, safety and protection for themselves and their workmates, and sanitation and cleaning regimes. We’ll be applying the protocols diligently.”
Dr Sweeney expects the protocols will impact on work conditions but stresses they are in place to guard against the risk of infection on site or in the community.
Dr Sweeney says it will be some months before the project has a clearer view of the lockdown’s impact on costs and construction timetables.
“Key factors in our evaluation will be the health of the economy and the efforts internationally to control COVID-19. Both affect access to workers, and the viability of those companies that supply us with our necessary materials and machinery.”
He adds that the project is considering some options to speed up work.
“It is our priority to keep the community, and relevant organisation and stakeholders informed if there are any changes. Under the Level 3 Alert we are still unable to meet face-to-face, but we have many other channels to keep everyone informed and will be using them extensively so people know what is going on - that is my commitment to everyone,” Dr Sweeney says.
Construction champing at the bit for a restart
21 April 2020
New Zealand’s biggest infrastructure project, Auckland’s $4.45 Billion City Rail Link, welcomes the Government decision to resume construction after the COVID-19 lockdown and Chief Executive, DrSean Sweeney, says his team is “champing at the bit” for a rapid re-start.
“Ever since the lockdown began four weeks ago there has been a lot of desk-top planning for a quick re-start and we’re well prepared to come out of the starting blocks fast - we’re champing at the bit and ready to get cracking asap,” Dr Sweeney says. “We’re already inspecting all CRL sites and making them ready for a safe return to work next week.
“Because of our size we’re aware of the big role we have in quickly getting the economy moving again, supporting the contracting and infrastructure industries and seeing our workers safely back on the job.”
Auckland Mayor Phil Goff also welcomes the Government’s announcement and CRL’s re-start news.
“As one of Auckland—and New Zealand’s—biggest and most important infrastructure projects, theCity Rail Link will play an important role in the post-COVID-19 economic stimulus,” Mr Goff says. “It’s critical that CRL construction resumes quickly to help kick start the economy, get construction and infrastructure industry employees back into work and limit as much as is possible the lockdown’s impact on construction timeframes.”
Work will resume next Tuesday (28 April) at all CRL sites – the C1 contract at Britomart and LowerQueen Street, C2 in Albert Street, C3 at Aotea in central Auckland, Karangahape Road and at MtEden, and C8 on the southern rail line at Ōtāhuhu.
Dr Sweeney says the paramount priority will be keeping workers, and the wider community, safe. CRL will strictly adhere to Government protocols for working under Alert Level-3.
“We had some pretty strict safety measures in place before the lockdown, but next Tuesday’s return to work will be different There will be additional constraints - restricted access to our sites, physical distancing, protective clothing and sanitising and cleaning regimes. They will all contribute to a successful re-start in the new COVID-19 work environment, and, just as importantly, they will help ensure our workers get home to family and friends virus-free when they finish their shifts.” Between now and next week all CRL sites will be inspected and made ready for a safe return to work.
Dr Sweeney says it is too early to measure if COVID-19 has impacted on project costs or construction timetables.
“It may be months before we know that once the economy has settled down a bit and we have a clearer picture on the availability of workers, and what sort of shape some of our suppliers both here and overseas are in.
“I know we have a small team of workers waiting in France because there are no flights here at the moment – that’s not a lockdown issue that‘s a wider international COVID-19 issue.
“A big plus for the project was ability of City Rail Link Ltd (CRL Ltd) and our Link Alliance contractors to be able to keep working on construction and design programmes during the lockdown – time wasn’t wasted and that’s been a big boost for our re-start,” he says.
Dr Sweeney adds that the project is investigating opportunities to accelerate some work, including more shifts of work and the use of extra plant and machinery.
“Those ‘shovel ready’ ideas are still in the planning stages but our contractors will be working hard – and safely – to get CRL delivered as quickly as possible for Auckland.”
Dr Sweeney assures people that they will be kept well informed of any project changes that may be made to programmes of work.
Even though we will still be unable to meet face-to-face at Level 3, there will be other ways of talking and communicating so people are kept in the loop – by phone, email and using our traditional and social media channels. Keeping people in the loop is an important part of a successful re-start and getting the job done,” Dr Sweeney says.
14 April 2020
Provincial “battle” over CRL search for inspiring name
The search for an inspiring woman’s name for the City Rail Link project’s Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) is developing into a “battle” of the provinces.
The name of one of three remarkable New Zealanders – Antarctic scientist Dr Margaret Hayward from Canterbury, Wellington-based transgender politician Georgina Beyer and Maori welfare and lands champion Dame Whina Cooper from Northland – is being considered for the high profile TBM role. People nationwide have an important role in the outcome by voting for the name they prefer. City Rail Link’s Chief Executive, Dr Sean Sweeney, says votes counted so far indicate a close contest. “It may be a long stretch from the provincial passions you find on a netball court or a footy field, but our search is turning into something of a provincial battle being fought on-line.
Without giving numbers away, Dame Whina is just ahead at this stage, but Dr Hayward and Ms Beyer are only a nudge behind,” Dr Sweeney says. People can continue to vote on-line at digCRL.co.nz. until Friday, 24 April. The successful name will be announced in early May.
The names of people who voted for the preferred name will go into a draw for a prize that includes hotel accommodation in Auckland for two nights and a one-year family pass to Auckland’s Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT).
Dame Whina, Dr Hayward and Ms Beyer were among more than 300 women nominated by New Zealanders for being ground breakers and for their lasting talent, skill and leadership.
“Tunnelling tradition dictates a TBM cannot start work until it has been given a female name, a sign of good luck and safety for the project ahead. Our search seeks to recognise the many amazing women New Zealand has produced,” Dr Sweeney says.
The TBM is due to arrive from China later this year in sections and reassembled at the Link Alliance construction site in Mt Eden. The Link Alliance will start tunnelling with the newly named TBM early next year, excavating 1.6 kilometres from Mt Eden to the Aotea Station in central Auckland to connect with the tunnels already constructed from the Britomart Station.
9 April 2020
Wanted! Creative children for Auckland’s big rail project
Kiwi kids from Cape Reinga in the far north all the way to Bluff in Southland have the chance to be part of New Zealand’s biggest-ever transport infrastructure project – the City Rail Link (CRL) in Auckland.
Children between five and 11 are invited to paint and draw images that will be then be fired onto ceramic tiles and used to decorate walls in a new underground railway station in the middle of Auckland.
“Children are fantastic dreamers with great imaginations, and we want them to fire up those skills as artists and give us pictures of where they would like to go by train once our underground railway is built,” says the Chief Executive of City Rail Link Ltd CRL Ltd), Dr Sean Sweeney. “Their journeys could be anywhere – taking the train down the road from home to the local diary or heading off into outer space or anywhere they like in between.”
Dr Sweeney says it is easy for children to show off their artistic skills.
They can use paints, crayons, pencils or pastels
Their artwork needs to be square shaped as it will be printed onto 10cm x 10cm tiles to be built into the station.
Artwork can either be scanned or photographed and sent by email to art@cityraillink.govt.nz
Artwork should also include the artist’s name, their age and school they go to
If possible, City Rail Link Ltd would love to receive short videos of tamariki holding up their art and explaining what they have drawn so that it can be shared on CRL’s social media channels and website
More information can be found at www.cityraillink.co.nz/resources-for-students-teachers-city-rail-link
Dr Sweeney says there are a couple of reasons why City Rail Link wants to connect with the country’s youngest artists.
“They will be part of the biggest art project in New Zealand. If they don’t live here already, there’s a good chance they are likely to visit the city on holiday when they can see their picture. It’s also a chance for children to be part of one of the country’s most important building projects – CRL is important for Auckland but building a railway under a city is complicated and our workers will be learning new skills on the job that they can then use on other building sites all over New Zealand.”
Dr Sweeney says children’s artwork will be displayed permanently at the Aotea Station, which will be New Zealand’s busiest when it opens in four years.
“Tens of thousands of people will walk past the children’s art wall every day on their way to work, or to home, but we have a very big wall to fill. We’ve already got 3,000 fantastic and colourful pictures but we need thousands more to fill the space and make the wall an exciting part of the station.
“With the Easter break coming up and schools still closed because of the lockdown we hope there is plenty of creative time for children to show off their awesome artistic talents. The tiles will be an important part of CRL – a fantastic legacy lasting 100 years or more,” Dr Sweeney says.
The City Rail Link is New Zealand’s first underground railway line. It is 3.45 kilometres long and its tunnels are being built under central Auckland.
It will change the iconic Britomart Transport Centre in downtown Auckland from a dead-end one-way station into a two-way through station that connects with other lines to allow more trains and more people to get in and out of the city. Aotea is one of two underground stations being built on the line, which is planned to open in 2024.
8 April 2020
Date confirmed for ancient tree found at CRL site
Radiocarbon dating has estimated that fragments of a tree recovered from a City Rail Link construction site are 28,000 (28 thousand) years old – a time when long extinct woolly mammoths and sabre tooth tigers still roamed the planet.
Fragments of the tree, probably a whau, were recovered under an ancient lava field 15 metres below ground while CRL’s small tunnel boring machine, Jeffie, was excavating a new stormwater drain at Mt Eden in February 2019.
The age of the fragments was confirmed after radiocarbon analysis by scientists and researchers at DEVORA (DEtermining VOlcanic Risk in Auckland).
“This tree is an exciting find for volcanologists because it confirms that Maungawhau/Mt Eden erupted about 28,000 years ago,” says DEVORA Volcanologist Elaine Smid. “We have used other techniques to date this eruption, with similar findings. This new radiocarbon result removes any lingering doubts about the age of Maungawhau/Mt Eden.”
Auckland 28,000 years ago was very different place. It was untouched by humans, wildlife were mainly birds, and the land was covered by hardwood forest and shrubs. Prominent volcanic landmarks like Rangitoto, Motukorea/Browns Island, Maungarei/Mt Wellington and the Panmure Basin did not exist. Beyond Auckland, Ngāuruhoe in the central North Island did not exist either. The earth was in the throes of an Ice Age – temperatures were colder, sea levels lower, and woolly mammoths and sabre tooth tigers still survived.
The tree’s discovery was made during critical works for CRL – excavation of the new stormwater drain was necessary for the project’s tunnels to connect with Auckland’s existing rail network at Mt Eden.
“It’s fantastic that a project focused firmly on Auckland’s future growth as an international city has been able to unlock a scientific treasure from a very distant past and help us learn more about the place so many New Zealanders call home,” says City Rail Link Ltd Chief Executive, Dr Sean Sweeney.
Iwi involved with CRL describe the discovery as an enlightening one connecting two significant events: the eruption and creation of Maungawhau and construction of the nearby City Rail Link
“Both events in their own way are creating dramatic changes to the landscape of Tāmaki Makaurau and the way we interact with it for generations to come,” says Gabriel Kirkwood, Kaitiaki for Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki – Taiaomaurikura. “The research undertaken into the age of the tree provides a valuable insight into the history of Tāmaki Makaurau and the scientific contribution to this knowledge will not be forgotten.”
While the age of the tree is confirmed, scientists are unsure of its fate at the time Maungawhau/Mt Eden erupted.
Shock waves from the eruption may have knocked over the tree, or it may have already fallen a short time before the eruption into a pond or swamp where it was protected from being burnt by spreading lava.
“The wood was nicely preserved. It doesn’t seem to have burned up and turned to charcoal, which we would expect if the tree was knocked over by the lava flow. Either way, the radiocarbon date for the wood gives us a really good idea of when Maungawhau/Mt Eden erupted,” Ms Smid says.
Even today, 28,000 years on, the tree fragments recovered from the CRL site still have a scientific role.
“DEVORA scientists use volcano ages to identify eruption patterns and to better understand how the Auckland Volcanic Field has behaved in the past – it’d like a big puzzle,” says Ms Smid. “This age is another piece in that puzzle, now slotted firmly into place. Every piece we add tells us a little more about how the volcanic field may behave in the future, making Auckland a safer place.”
NOTE: DEtermining VOlcanic Risk in Auckland (DEVORA) is a transdisciplinary, multi-agency, collaborative research programme aimed at improving assessment of volcanic hazard and risk in the Auckland metropolitan area. It is co-led by the University of Auckland and GNS Science and supported by the Earthquake Commission and Auckland Council. (http://www.devora.org.nz/)
30 March 2020
Then there were three! Search narrows for inspiring name
The three finalists are out for the name of the big #crl #cityraillink #LinkAlliance Tunnel Boring Machine. Now we need you to go to digCRL.co.nz to tell us which of the three you pick. There were 300 names.
The three finalists are:
Dr Margaret Bradshaw, a trailblazing and internationally recognised Antarctic scientist. She was the first woman to lead a deep field party to the frozen continent, discovered fish fossils in the Cook Mountains there, and Bradshaw Peak is named in her honour.
Dame Whina Cooper is a national icon who, at 80, was the inspirational leader of the Māori land march on Parliament in 1975. Dame Whina founded the Māori Women’s Welfare League and devoted a life to fighting discrimination and improving living conditions for her people.
Georgina Beyer is a Kiwi ground breaker in every sense of the word. Born a boy, she became the world’s first trans-gender Mayor and later was elected to Parliament as the world’s first trans-gender MP. She champions human and gender rights.
City Rail Link Chief Executive Dr Sean Sweeney says: “These women have all played very different roles in helping shape New Zealand, but they also share the same outstanding qualities – brave, compassionate and fearless leadership. They continue to inspire so many and remain timely and staunch reminders during COVID-19’s extreme challenge to this country of why we can be proud of ground-breakers like them to lead New Zealand forward.”
A panel of people from CRL Ltd and the Link Alliance - which will operate the TBM – and representatives from Auckland Council’s Albert-Eden and Waitematā Local Boards has narrowed the list to three.
24 March 2020
COVID-19 Alert Closes CRL Construction Sites
After the Prime Minister’s announcement that New Zealand is now at COVID-19 alert Level 3 and moving to alert Level 4, City Rail Link Ltd (CRL Ltd) confirms construction at all City Rail Link project sites will stop immediately for a minimum of four weeks.
“Our immediate priority is ensuring the safety of our people and the security of our sites,” says CRL Ltd Chief Executive Dr Sean Sweeney.
“We will ensure that appropriate measures are put in place to keep each site and the surrounding areas safe.” Dr Sweeney says many project staff involved with the project are still able to continue working from home and will do so as the shutdown continues.
“We are doing everything we can to ensure that we are well placed to come out of the blocks very fast when the restart call is given,” Dr Sweeney says.
City Rail Link Ltd and the Link Alliance are available able to speak with people and provide information. For queries people can contact 0800 CRL TALK (0800 275 8255) or email info@cityraillink.govt.nz or, if they have questions relating to a specific area, they can email the following:
Aotea Station – aotea@linkalliance.co.nz
Karangahape – karangahape@linkalliance.co.nz
Mt Eden - mteden@linkalliance.co.nz
CRL social media pages (Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn) and the project website www.cityraillink.govt.nz will also continue to keep people informed.
“In the meantime, everyone stay safe and be well, and we look forward to getting back on site as soon as the shutdown is over,” Dr Sweeney says.
10 March 2020
CRL search narrows for outstanding New Zealand woman
Pioneers, pop stars and politicians are among more than 300 inspirational New Zealand women people say should be recognised by Auckland’s City Rail Link when the project’s mechanical star – a giant tunnel boring machine (TBM) – is named.
“The response to our search for a suitable name has been fantastic, and I want to thank everyone for their interest and support,” says City Rail Link Ltd’s Chief executive, Dr Sean Sweeney.
There were more than 2,000 entries from people aged between five and 89. Nominations were received from as far as Britain and America.
Work starts tomorrow (Wednesday 11 March) on the challenging task of picking three names from 300-plus to go forward to a nationwide vote so that all New Zealanders can decide who the TBM will be named after.
Large machines like TBMs carry a woman’s name to honour St Barbara, the patron saint and protector of tunnellers and people who deal with explosives. Dr Sweeney says the project decided its TBM would be named after someone whose inspiration, talents, skills and leadership has a lasting impact on New Zealand.
“The names we have are a great reflection of New Zealand’s colourful and diverse development – judging by the nominations no-one can accuse us of being a staid and conservative bunch of people.”
Among those nominated are super model Rachel Hunter for making “it ok for women everywhere to eat a Trumpet while on the go” and pioneering Roaring Meg from central Otago’s gold fields described as a “high spirited and fun-loving saloon girl with an eye for opportunity.”
Others in the list are Maori lands right champion, Dame Whina Cooper, political activist Kate Sheppard, writer Margaret Mahy, singer Lorde, Dame Yvette Williams the first New Zealand woman to win Olympic Gold, and Rosemary Dempsey creator of that key ingredient for any successful barbie, Kiwi onion dip!
The panel deciding on the final three include representatives from City Rail Link Ltd and the Link Alliance – which will operate the TBM – and from Auckland Council’s Albert Eden and Waitematā Local Boards.
Voting on the final three names will start on March 30 and will continue through to April 24. City Rail Link Ltd will announce the successful choice in May.
The TBM is being built in China and will be shipped to New Zealand later this year in sections and reassembled at the Link Alliance construction site in Mt Eden. Early next year the TBM will start tunnelling 1.6 kilometres to the Aotea underground station in central Auckland to connect with the tunnels already constructed from the Britomart Station.
26 February 2020
Central Auckland traffic closure for CRL station build
The Wellesley Street West intersection with Mayoral Drive and Albert Street in central Auckland will close to all traffic this Sunday, 1 March, and construction will start almost immediately on the Aotea underground station for the City Rail Link (CRL).
“We recognise this is a busy part of town and while the intersection is closed to vehicles, we’re focussed on keeping the area safely accessible and open for business,” says Dale Burtenshaw Deputy Project Director for the Link Alliance.
The intersection closure will be in place by mid-Sunday morning. Once clear of traffic, Link Alliance crews will move in to get ready for the first stage of station construction under the intersection. Trenches will be cut into the surface to locate and safely move utilities buried under the road before building the station walls and roof.
“The sooner we start and finish the first stages of our station work, the sooner we can re-open part of the intersection,” Mr Burtenshaw says.
Once the walls and roof are built, Wellesley Street West will re-open to through traffic in early 2021 while station construction continues below ground. Access to Mayoral Drive at the intersection will remain closed until CRL is completed in 2024. Local access to Albert Street continues.
“I want to thank Aucklanders for their support for what will be a massive programme of work ahead of us to build Aotea,” Mr Burtenshaw says. “The station will be an important destination for Auckland’s future development by giving tens of thousands of people direct access to the city’s heart.”
The Link Alliance is responsible for the largest CRL contract: building Aotea and Karangahape underground stations, upgradingthe existing Mt Eden station, and using a Tunnel Boring Machine to complete the CRL tunnels.
Mr Burtenshaw says a lot of work by the Link Alliance, City Rail Link Ltd, Auckland Council and Auckland Transport is directed at keeping the city centre moving.
Temporary footpaths will keep the Wellesley intersection construction area safe and clear, enabling people to easily access shops, businesses and homes by foot. People on bikes or scooters will need to walk their wheels on the temporary footpaths. Auckland Transport last weekend diverted 30 bus services affected by the Wellesley Street West closure on to new central city routes.
Despite the closure, the area will be a busy with construction and people moving around the work site.
“We do ask everyone – whether travelling by foot, bike, scooter or car – to be careful and patient in and around the area for their own safety and for the safety of our workers.
“Disruption is unavoidable, but longer term it will bring positive change for Auckland. Our priority is to minimise the impact of work and to let people know of any changes to make journeys for everyone as easy as possible,” Mr Burtenshaw says.
Project and transport updates: Bus routes/traffic diversions visit - AT.govt.nz/BetterWay
25 February 2020
Quirky names for City Rail Link’s “Lady in Waiting”
New Zealanders’ quirky sense of humour is reflected in the creative names for the City Rail Link Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM), with “Subterranean Sue” (aka Dame Susan Devoy) and “Jacindigger” (Jacinda Ardern) among the suggestions so far for the TBM.
Ms Ardern and Dame Susan, a former world squash champion and Race Relations Commissioner, are among 80 different women nominated as a possible TBM name. Others include war-time heroes, sports champions, outstanding political and community leaders and entertainers.
“All those who have been nominated share one thing in common – their inspiring talents, skills and leadership have made, or are making, a huge impact on New Zealand,” says City Rail Link’s Chief Executive, Dr Sean Sweeney.
City Rail Link and the Link Alliance, which will operate the TBM to complete the tunnels, are running a naming competition for the TBM.
Anyone in New Zealand over five can suggest a name on-line www.digcrl.co.nz. People can also make a nomination at participating local libraries.
Auckland schools are also helping find a name and are integrating the search into inquiry-based learning and social science classes, which give students a different opportunity to learn more about women who have helped shape New Zealand.
“We welcome everyone’s suggestion. The TBM will have a very forceful influence on the project, and that’s why we want the name of a woman who has had an equally strong influence on our country,” Dr Sweeney says.
By tradition, large machines like TBMs have a woman’s name to honour St Barbara, the patron saint and protector of tunnellers and people who deal with explosives.
Dr Sweeney describes the TBM as CRL’s “lady in waiting”.
“Our search is important because industry convention says the TBM can’t start its journey under Auckland until it has been given a women’s name.”
Name nominations will close on Thursday, 5 March. The top three will then be selected by a panel and New Zealanders will have the chance to vote for the one they prefer for the TBM. Voting will be open between 12-26 March.
13 February 2020
New Zealanders’ role in big day for Auckland’s CRL project
DigCRL: CRL Ltd CE Dr Sean Sweeney, Auckland Mayor Phil Goff and Minister of Transport Phil Twyford
Transforming Auckland’s public transport has taken a big step forward with three significant developments today for the City Rail Link project.
A symbolic ground-breaking ceremony clears the way to start building the project’s southern tunnel portal at Mt Eden, a deal has been struck to supply the big Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) to excavate the tunnels, and New Zealanders are being invited to choose that TBM’s name.
Transport Minister Phil Twyford says tunnelling from Mt Eden into central Auckland is a big and exciting next step for the CRL project.
“Not only will CRL boost Auckland’s transport system, it will stimulate urban regeneration with jobs and affordable housing around Mt Eden station and elsewhere along the city’s rail corridors - a completed CRL will double the number of the number of people within 30 minutes of central Auckland, New Zealand’s biggest employment hub,” Mr Twyford says.
Auckland Mayor Phil Goff says the CRL is New Zealand’s largest ever transport infrastructure project and today’s ceremony launches the most important stage of its construction.
“The CRL will be a gamechanger for Auckland, allowing 54,000 people an hour to travel into the city at peak times. It adds capacity equivalent to three Harbour Bridges or 16 extra traffic lanes into the city at peak. The TBM will be the star of the show, providing the mechanical muscle required to get the job done as quickly as possible,” Mr Goff says.
City Rail Link Ltd’s Chief Executive, Dr. Sean Sweeney, says all New Zealanders will have the chance to name the TBM after an outstanding New Zealand woman.
“Machines that work underground traditionally have a woman’s name and the naming competition will allow people a unique moment to be part of this monumental engineering feat,” says Dr.Sweeney.
Preparations to welcome the TBM and start the next stage of tunnel construction were formally launched by Mr Twyford, Mr Goff, Auckland Mana Whenua and officials from City Rail Link Ltd and the Link Alliance.
MT EDEN TUNNEL PORTAL
Spades in the ground at the sod-turning ceremony clears the way for work to start on driving 66 concrete piles between 38 metres and eight metres long into the ground to support the curved-shaped retaining wall 127 metres long and 25 metres high.
The portal will take 10 months to build. When completed, it will be the launching pad for the TBM and the two separate journeys it will make under Auckland from Mt Eden to the Aotea station in the central city.
A German company, Herrenknecht, will build the $13.5 million TBM. The machine will be built at the company’s factory in China and shipped to New Zealand in sections next spring where it will be reassembled in front of the portal. The TBM will start tunnelling in February 2021.
TBM NAMING COMPETITION
Tunnelling tradition dictates that a TBM cannot start work until it has a woman’s name to honour St Barbara, the patron saint of underground workers, as a sign of good luck for the project ahead.
The City Rail Link TBM will be named after a ground-breaking New Zealand woman identified by New Zealanders.
“The Tunnel Boring machine will help create huge changes for Auckland’s future and it deserves the name of an amazing woman who, equally, has had an enormous impact on our country,” Dr Sweeney says.
Anyone can submit a name to www.digcrl.co.nz. Submissions will close on Thursday, 5 March. The top three names will then be selected by an internal panel and New Zealanders will vote for the one they prefer for the TBM. Voting will be open between 12-26 March.
Dr Sweeney says all three announcements cap off what he calls “a breath-taking 12 months” after the collapse of a big CRL contractor.
“Far from a setback, that collapse was the catalyst for big and rapid change inside the project and we are now celebrating the benefit of those changes – a CRL team that includes the best expertise from New Zealand and overseas that’s ready to deliver the next big step of an outstanding project for Aucklanders.”
05 February 2020
Plans in place for Wellesley Street CRL closure
The City Rail Link (CRL) project is launching the next phase of construction and starting to build the Aotea underground station in central Auckland.
While station construction is underway, the Wellesley Street West intersection with Albert Street and Mayoral Drive will close to road traffic from Sunday, 1 March.
“Construction of the Aotea station under the intersection is massive in scale. The closure allows us to safely and quickly move existing underground utilities before building the station walls and roof,” says Dale Burtenshaw, Deputy Project Director for the Link Alliance building the stations and tunnels for City Rail Link Ltd (CRL Ltd).
Once the walls and roof are built, Wellesley Street West will re-open to through traffic in early 2021 while construction of the station, platform and tunnels continues below ground. Access to Mayoral Drive at the intersection will remain closed until CRL is completed in 2024. Local access to Albert Street will be maintained.
Mr Burtenshaw says the Link Alliance, CRL Ltd, Auckland Council and Auckland Transport acknowledge the impact station construction and the intersection closure will have on the immediate community and road users and are collaborating on plans to keep the city centre moving.
“Impact is unavoidable, but we are determined to minimise this as much as practicably possible while we build the station,” Mr Burtenshaw says. “Our priority is to keep people informed.”
The intersection is a major arterial for buses, and Auckland Transport has planned new routes for 30 bus services in the city centre until Wellesley Street West reopens in 2021.
Pete Moth, Manager Network Development for AT says the re-routed buses will be supported by new bus priority measures. “In morning peak, 450 buses carry 30,000 people into the city centre. The new 24/7 bus lanes being installed will ensure those buses are given priority.”
Buses will divert either along Mayoral Drive or Victoria Street, depending on the route, with the changes happening on Sunday, 23 February. Services affected come from the North Shore, west Auckland and central Auckland.
“If you travel into the city centre by bus, we recommend people check our website or their bus stops to see if their route is affected,” says Moth.
For motorists, traffic diversions will also be in place once the intersection closes. Mayoral Drive and Victoria Street will be used as alternatives. Access to carparks in the surrounding areas will be maintained.
People will still be able to access businesses, shops and homes in the area on foot, and to be able to walk around the intersection.
Temporary accessible footpaths will be built to keep the construction area safe and clear.
People on bikes will need to walk their wheels along the temporary footpaths or can use the alternative routes along Victoria Street and Mayoral Drive.
For more information on the bus route and traffic diversions, visit AT.govt.nz/BetterWay
For more information on CRL visit www.cityraillink.co.nz/cbd-wellesley-street-intersection-closure
21 January 2020
Tropical paradise a new home for CRL building
A tropical corner of the Pacific 2,500 remote kilometres from New Zealand will be the new home for a distinctive Auckland building being demolished for the City Rail Link (CRL) project.
The building in the middle of Beresford Square is being removed to construct the station under nearby Karangahape Road and shipped to the island of Niue and rebuilt as a café.
“This is a win-win outcome for everyone,” says Dale Burtenshaw, Deputy Project Manager for the Link Alliance, which is building the tunnels and stations for City Rail Link Ltd. “A well-known destination in the K Road area is preserved and gets a new life, and we remain on track with our construction programme.”
The building was built 25 years ago as a café on the site of a turning circle for Auckland’s old trams. The person behind its construction is now at the centre of its preservation.
Rob Roughan, who is of Niuean heritage, intends to reassemble it as a café on a vanilla plantation he is developing to help promote Niue’s tourism.
“Niue is home to fewer than 2000 people and tourism is an important money earner for the island. The number of visitors is growing, and the hope is that my old café will be nostalgic reminder for some of them.”
When Rob and his partners built it in 1995, they had the building bolted together instead of welded. This is making deconstruction and reassembly possible. Sections of the building are being packed into a container at the Beresford Square site before it is shipped to Niue.
Over the years, the building has been used for cafes and wine bars and finally as an information hub to inform Aucklanders about the future benefits the City Rail Link project.
Saving the Beresford Square building is part of an active sustainability policy adopted by the Link Alliance. Last year, material salvaged from buildings being demolished at the CRL site in Mt Eden was shipped to Tonga for reuse, and an historic 19th century kauri cottage was safely trucked to a heritage site in Waikato.
The Link Alliance is a group of New Zealand and international infrastructure companies delivering the main CRL works. The companies are: City Rail Link Ltd, Vinci Construction Grands Projets S.A.S, Downer NZ Ltd, Soletanche Bachy International NZ Ltd, WSP Opus (NZ) td, AECOM New Zealand Ltd, and Tonkin+Taylor Ltd
14 January 2020
CRL work resumes at “runaway bus” site
Work has resumed on the City Rail Link site in central Auckland after yesterday’s runaway bus incident.
Crews from the Link Alliance worked overnight to make the site on the corner of Albert and Victoria Streets was safe and secure for both pedestrians and CRL workers.
The site was closed after an empty double-decker tourist bus rolled back downhill into barriers around the site, injuring three people including a child.
City Rail Link Ltd’s Chief Executive, Dr Sean Sweeney, commended the quick reaction of project workers to help those caught in the incident.
“Thankfully those workers had the presence of mind and the courage to immediately get over that barrier and to help make sure everyone, including the toddler caught under the bus, were safe. Given there was no immediate information about the safety or the stability of the bus, their actions, including crawling under the bus, were heroic,” Dr Sweeney says.
A team of about 10 CRL workers were on site at the time, involved in piling work for a trench being excavated south along Albert Street. The trench will be used to relocate utilities away from the planned Aotea underground station.
Dr Sweeney says the incident has had no impact on work at the site.
