The largest component of the City Rail Link (CRL) project – the construction of the tunnels and new stations took a major step forward this month with the release of its first tender documents to the industry.

There will be two new stations as part of the build of the underground rail line linking Britomart with the existing western line near Mt Eden. The new stations will be near Aotea Square with entrances at Wellesley and Victoria Streets and a station in Mercury Lane, just off Karangahape Road. The present Mount Eden train station will be extended and redeveloped. 

Tender documents sent out for the tunnel and station works involve:

• Aotea Station: Cut and cover construction of a 15m-deep, 300m-long underground station with entrances at either end at Victoria and Wellesley Streets. 
• Karangahape Road Station: Mined construction of a 32m-deep underground station with 150m-long platforms, an entrance at Mercury Lane and provision for a future entrance at Beresford Square.
• Tunnels: Twin-bored tunnel construction between the Mt Eden station and the southern end of Aotea Station.

Expressions of Interest have also been sought for the design, procurement, installation and commissioning of all tunnel track work and rail systems between Britomart Station and the Western Line at Mt Eden.

There are a lot of CRL preparation works occurring on Albert Street at present. A piling rig is in operation to support the ground before we start work on the cut and cover tunnels. Further south, the project is investigating the exact locations of various underground utility services prior to starting work on the new mid-town station.

As a result, various alterations need to be made to traffic routes on Albert Street and its side streets, to accommodate the piling and utility works in particular. Pedestrian access is being maintained at all times, so people can continue to support their local businesses.

This week, northbound traffic on Albert Street will be diverted left at Swanson Street and will continue north along Federal Street. This diversion is expected to be in place until the end of March while piling works continue. 

Wyndham Street West will re-open to traffic, while operations move to the opposite side of the street. As a result, the Albert Street slip lane to Durham Lane will be closed until mid to late March. During this time, access to Durham Lane will be via Queen Street only.

For southbound traffic on Albert Street heading to Mills Lane, there are only left-turn movements in and out. To access Mills Lane or the businesses on the lower eastern side of Albert Street between Customs and Swanson Sts (such as Quay West, Stamford Hotel, CityMed and Commonwealth Vault), traffic will need to travel down Queen and turn left into Customs St and Albert Street.

CRL has released its first annual review on sustainability, which shows the project is on track to deliver substantial sustainability benefits.

The aim is to build New Zealand’s largest infrastructure project while creating the least possible waste, using minimal resources, choosing the right resource and method for the task and contributing to Auckland’s social fabric.

The team is working on key sustainability targets with its contractors and so far is achieving success.

• The CRL has been awarded a ‘Leading’ rating by the Infrastructure Sustainability Council of Australia (ISCA), the highest possible achievement in the IS scheme. 
• ISCA has acknowledged as a ‘world first’ innovation, the process the CRL has undertaken to engage and partner with Mana Whenua to embed cultural values into an industry recognised sustainability framework.
• The team is striving to send zero waste to landfill by supporting and challenging contractors to avoid, reduce, reuse, recycle and recover as much waste as possible. For example, Green Gorilla skip bins from the construction site are processed in a purpose-built Resource Recovery and Transfer Station facility where more than 75 percent of waste materials are diverted from landfill.
• The team is measuring the project’s carbon footprint and has used these carbon calculations to help optimise the design. Projected savings during construction are of slightly more than one million litres of diesel and a reduction in total emissions equivalent to nearly 18,000 flights between Auckland and London.

The CRL itself will offer major environmental benefits. In Auckland, transport is responsible for about 40 percent of greenhouse gas emissions with the majority from road transport. CRL will double the peak capacity of the rail network as well as significantly reduce travel times giving more vehicle commuters the choice of travelling by train. This will reduce the city’s footprint and help the country meet its international commitments on climate change.

To read the Sustainability annual report click here.