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Mercury Lane construction site
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Kia Ora
We hope that you have been keeping safe and well and have begun to enjoy the freedom of Level One!
As you can see from the image above of Mercury Lane, the journey to build the new station is truly underway and the transformation of the sites is clear.
Below is a list of key construction activities and stories from the area.
If you have any questions please contact us by replying to this email or phone 0800 CRL TALK and select option 4.
Warm regards,
The Karangahape Station team
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Key construction activities
Mercury Lane:
- Utility work continues
- Continued excavation of the temporary access shaft, which provides underground access for all plant and personnel. This will be completed in August when the shaft reaches 22-metres deep
- The noise enclosure foundations are being installed, which will be followed by the erection of enclosure’s steel frame
- The bentonite plant continues to be set up and will be operational for approximately four months
- Diaphragm wall construction scheduled to begin this June.
Beresford Square
- Utility work continues
- We will commence installation of eight new manholes around the square
- Trenching work has begun for a new 22K high-voltage cable
- Service providers to install new cables from 8 June. When they cut over from old to new there will be a brief suspension of services, which will be notified in advance by the relevant utility provider.
For further information on the activities above, and plans for the Karangahape construction sites, see the CRL website here.
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A day in the life – Auckland Festival of Photography
This year the Link Alliance and CRLL are proud sponsors of the Auckland Festival of Photography. As part of the festival an outdoor exhibition of imagery can be found displayed on our hoardings along Hopetoun Street.
The photographs displayed are those taken for Auckland Photo Day throughout the last decade by Aucklanders.
The displayed images are curated from the festival’s unique archive of 14000 photographs. The display fits in with a core Link Alliance’s value of developing the skills and knowledge base of Tāmaki Makaurau through collaborations with the creative sector.
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D-Walls – the first permanent parts of the station are about to begin
Progress at the Mercury Lane construction site is moving at an impressive pace. Over the past few weeks we have seen the installation of the bentonite plant, the excavation of the temporary access shaft and the foundations of the noise enclosure installed.
The next big step, and first of the permanent structure to be constructed, is on the horizon. In the next few weeks the construction of the station’s Diaphragm walls (D-Walls) will begin.
A D-Wall is essentially an underground concrete retaining wall, created by excavating a trench that is filled with bentonite (a clay slurry) until concrete can be poured in its place.
The D-Walls are critical for soil retention around the site and to provide the frame for the underground station construction.
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Beresford Square – what happens after utilities?
The utility works which are taking place around the square are scheduled to finish up in the coming months. But what happens then?
Very different work will begin in the square, but contained within the parameters of our hoardings and traffic management plan.
Key activities that will take place include the installation of six plunged columns, followed by guide-walls, diaphragm-walls and slab construction. We will provide further details on these activities closer to the date.
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Beresford Square - D-Wall
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Meet the Team – Simon Mitchell, Community Manager
What does your job involve?
I manage the communications and engagement team – hopefully you’ve met some of us! We’re a team of four, responsible for managing stakeholder feedback and letting everyone know what we’re doing through maildrops, newsletters and face-to-face meetings.
Essentially, we’re the conduit between the construction team and the public. We try to manage the impact of our works and look at ways our construction team can work-in with stakeholders whenever possible.
Where did you grow up?
I’m an Aucklander born and raised. I spent most of my 20s overseas but asides from that I’ve only lived here. It’s changed a lot and keeps changing.
Where were you working prior to this?
Most recently I was the Senior Communications Manager at the Manukau Institute of Technology. Prior to that I spent more than 10 years in construction, working on the Orewa to Puhoi Northern Gateway Toll Road and at the Auckland Road Maintenance Alliance, based in East Street.
What do you do when you are not working?
Pre-Covid I managed to get to a couple of judo classes each week, so I’m looking forward to getting back into that. I’ve got three kids so I’m often acting as a taxi driver, dropping off and picking up from sports and birthday parties.
Any fun facts you want to share?
In the mid-80s I would often catch the bus into K Road to skate in the Cross Street car park. It was actually pretty wholesome. It was the weekend so nothing was open and the car park was completely empty, we had the place to ourselves.
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Our new neighbour – Beautiful Things Gallery
The ground floor of 16 East Street has been transformed into a chic and welcoming café and gallery.
Currently on show is an exhibition of works by contemporary artists and illustrators displayed on T-shirts. All of which are available to buy, in any colour you want.
Pop in for a coffee and culture, or check out their website – beautifulthings.nz
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Virtual CLG held
A new engagement method for our Community Liaison Group was adopted in May to keep the CLG informed, even with Level 2 restrictions in place.
The regular presentations and meeting took place over Microsoft Teams where the Station Manager, key engineers and advisors talked through what is to come with the station build. The presentation can be found on the CRL website here.
While our virtual CLG meeting was well received, we are looking forward to seeing everyone again in person at the next meeting.
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