Faces of the CRL – Joe O’Brien

Delivering the country’s largest infrastructure project takes some seriously talented people, so in this section “Faces of the CRL” we talk to some of City Rail Link’s best and brightest. This month we turn the spotlight on Joe O’Brien, the Link Alliance Civil Design Manager for the Construction Phase Services team.

Name: Joe O’Brien

Suburb: Hobsonville

How long have you been working on the City Rail Link?

3 ½ years (since the beginning of the C3 tender)

What is your role and what does your average day look like?

My role has evolved as the project’s focus has shifted from design to construction. I’m currently the Link Alliance Civil Design Manager for the Construction Phase Services (CPS) team. My role is to lead a team of designers that support the construction team solve the various challenges typical of a highly complex, multidisciplinary project.

What has been one of your favourite moments while working on the CRL?

Being part of the Link Alliance team selected as the successful tenderer for the C3 contract, and when my 95-year-old Grandmother in the UK reads this bio (she’s as a CRL Connection Newsletter subscriber and fan of all things CRL!)

Tell us more about some of the roles you’ve worked in the past.

The bulk of my experience has been navigating the design and construction interface on a number of rail and tunnel infrastructure projects in the UK, Australia and now here in New Zealand.

When you’re not working on the largest transport infrastructure project in NZ, how do you like to spend your time?

Playing Football, drinking craft beer and walking on Auckland’s west coast beaches with my fiancée and retired greyhound, Fred.

What are you most excited for when the CRL is complete?

Showing the completed stations to my friends and family and seeing how much it enhances the Auckland city centre.