Mayor Digs Aotea

An official ‘spade in the ground’ celebration this month marked the move underground to build Aotea Station.

It also heralds the re-opening of one major intersection in central Auckland and the temporary closure of another as construction shifts focus.

Until now, work on the Aotea Station has centred around moving utilities and piling to create the underground walls and roof of the station – but on April 16, Auckland’s Mayor Phil Goff and councillor Pippa Coom turned the first spade of dirt, marking the start of excavation of the station cavity (this is what’s known as a top-down construction method; the station roof is built first and then the station dug-out under it).

At the same time, Goff provided an update on the re-opening of the Wellesley/Albert Street intersection and the temporary closure of the Victoria/Albert Street intersection.

Exact dates are still being finalised, but Wellesley Street is expected to re-open first in June or July, followed a few days later by the closure of the Victoria Street / Albert Street intersection.

“As New Zealand’s largest-ever transport infrastructure project, disruption is unavoidable, but it is important to remember that the city centre around the Aotea site remains open for business and for leisure – it will always be a great place to work, to visit, and to support local.”

The project is working with Auckland Council, Auckland Transport and other organisations to minimise disruption, and to reschedule and redirect bus services.   

During construction, CRL’s contractor, Link Alliance, will deliver a programme to support local businesses, as well as a range of community events, activations, and public art in the area.

Wellesley Street will re-open after it was closed to traffic in March 2020 to move underground utilities and to begin station construction.  

Victoria Street will remain open to people on foot but will close to traffic for approximately two years until 2023.

When completed, Aotea Station will become the busiest railway station in New Zealand serving central Auckland which is regarded as the country’s largest employment hub.

The station will be 15 metres deep, with 300 metres long platforms and entrances on Wellesley and Victoria Streets.