Britomart Team Preparing to ‘Hit the Ground Running’
There is now a 6-metre strip of paving open from Customs Street through to Quay Street
With City Rail Link’s C1 contract works on-track within the Chief Post Office (CPO) building, at Britomart Station and on Lower Queen Street – CRL’s workers have put tools down while the COVID-19 lockdown is in place.
As soon as the Government announced that New Zealand was at COVID-19 Alert Level 3 moving to Alert Level 4, CRL Ltd’s contractor Downer Soletanche Bachy Joint Venture (DSBJV) began preparing for a full site shut down. This ensured that they could safely cease construction for a minimum of four weeks, while still providing around-the-clock security measures until works can resume.
Andrew Swan, C1 Contract Manager, says that there’s still a lot to do while construction is on hold, with many of the team continuing with the task of planning and design work from their homes.
“We’re looking at every opportunity to hit the ground running once the COVID-19 Level 4 alert is lifted and want to ensure we’re well placed to minimise any lost time.”
“As soon as we get the green light, DSBJV will remobilise and make the site safe again so construction can re-start” he says.
Lower Queen Street plaza
Paving works on the western side of the new Lower Queen Street plaza were completed just prior to tools-down. There is now a 6 metre strip of paving open from Customs Street through to Quay Street, giving unobstructed access to H&M, Zurich House and the new Commercial Bay shopping centre.
CRL’s newest neighbour, Commercial Bay, was due to open on 28 March however this has been postponed until after the lockdown period. With retail fit outs complete, menus printed and stock ordered in preparation for the grand opening, the retailers there will be ready to let the public through their front doors when the time is right.
Chief Post Office building
Most of the historic CPO building ground floor has also been reinstated and construction of the new basement levels progressing well.
CRL’s workers have now started installing building services in the basement levels. This includes ventilation systems, fire protection and detection, electrical services and communications/security systems.
Britomart upgrade
CRL tunnels under the CPO building and Lower Queen Street are already constructed, with the remaining job of ‘stitching’ the tunnels into the existing station almost complete.
At platform level new stairs and the first two metro escalators have also been installed, with two remaining escalators to be installed once construction resumes. Work on the station's public toilets and back-of-house areas are also underway.
“We’ve achieved much already but are entering a new phase of complex rebuild to finish work on this contract” said Swan.
“While we all need to keep ourselves and community safe by staying home during the pandemic Alert Level 4, we’re also looking forward getting back on site and finishing the job,” he says.
Latest details on C1 Britomart works are at https://www.cityraillink.co.nz/construction-lower-queen-street-britomart-city-rail-link.