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24 November 2023
Welcome to the latest update on construction activity in the midtown area.
Find out more about the regeneration of midtown and follow the progress by visiting ProgressAKL.co.nz/midtown. You can read past updates here.
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In this update
- Victoria Street roadway re-opening soon
- Te Hā Noa on Victoria Street
- Events bring people to midtown
- Support for small businesses
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Victoria Street roadway re-opening soonWe’re delighted to say that Victoria Street West will re-open to vehicle traffic before Christmas.
Victoria Street West has been closed to through-traffic since June 2021 to build the City Rail Link (CRL), and more recently for construction of Te Hā Noa between Albert Street and Queen Street. The completion of the Victoria and Albert intersection is a significant milestone in the CRL project and it’s great to see so much of the pedestrian areas already complete.
Victoria Street West will re-open in stages over the next few weeks:
- During the week of 11 December*, we’ll reopen the eastbound lane from Federal Street to Albert Street – you’ll then also be able to drive south along Albert Street towards the Crowne Plaza Hotel
- Later in the following week*, in the lead up to Christmas, we’ll reopen to two-way traffic between Federal Street and Queen Street, which means it will then be possible to drive the full length of Victoria Street
*Dates are subject to factors such as weather and wider network operations. Please follow signage and the directions of crew members on-street.
Things to note:
- Once Victoria Street reopens fully, Albert Street will also reopen to southbound traffic between Victoria Street and Wellesley Street
- Elliott Street will return to being left turn only onto Victoria Street West
- The slip lane below Albert Street near Durham Street West will reopen to southbound vehicles
- There will be changes to accessing the slip lane below the Crowne Plaza Hotel – see here for more details
- Streetscape works including paving will continue on Victoria Street, and temporary road layouts and traffic management will remain in place until Te Hā Noa is complete
- You can find your nearest loading zones at www.AT.govt.nz/citycentre
- All neighbouring parking buildings remain open and accessible but access to Wilson Parking Elliott Street will be accessible from Elliott Street only (the service lane entrance will be temporarily closed)
- The bidirectional cycleway on the southern side of Victoria Street West is still under construction
Image: new footpath complete at the corner of Victoria and Albert streets
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More changes coming in 2024
Now that Victoria Street is reopening to vehicles, we can return to work on Wellesley Street to get it ready for the thousands of people who’ll move through the new Te Waihorotiu Station each day.
In early 2024, there will be some lane changes on Wellesley Street to enable safe working areas for our construction crews, but there will be one lane of traffic in each direction at all times. Some bus stops will also be relocated to enable this work.
We’ll provide more details in our next update before the end of the year. In the meantime, for more information about bus stop changes and getting around the city centre, visit www.AT.govt.nz/citycentre .
Questions?
If you have any questions, contact us at midtown@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz or aotea@linkalliance.co.nz .
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Te Hā Noa on Victoria Street - construction updateMaking progress
Since we extended our working hours five weeks ago, we’ve achieved a lot in Zone 1 near Countdown. We are on track to open Victoria Street West to through traffic before Christmas.
Constructing the speed table at the intersection with Elliott Street was a major milestone. The concrete has been poured and now it needs to cure for a few weeks before vehicles can drive over it. Over the next few weeks we’ll be paving the ramps and pouring the final concrete next to the new table.
We have also made great progress with paving on the northern footpath. The main paving between The President Hotel and Countdown has been laid and now we’re installing the detailed paving around service lids and new garden beds.
Now that we’ve achieved these milestones, we no longer need to work extended hours. From next week, we’ll be returning to our standard working hours, which are typically Monday to Saturday, 7am to 5:30pm. As always, when we need to do evening or night work, we'll let the nearby neighbours know in advance.
Image: building the speed table at the intersection of Victoria and Elliott streets
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What to expect in December
Before Christmas we will:
- prepare the base layer of the new footpath and lay concrete in the section between Countdown and Queen Street
- begin work on the new loading bay between Countdown and Queen Street
- lay new kerbs on the corner of Queen Street and Victoria Street near Mecca
- start work on the new cycle separator near Elliott Street - this will form the first part of what will be the new bidirectional cycleway on the southern side of Victoria Street West.
Work on site will finish on 22 December for the holiday period and start again on 8 January 2024. There may be some minor work undertaken between Christmas and the new year but we do not expect any significant disruption to neighbours during this time. We will reduce our site as much as possible and ensure it is tidy and safe for people enjoying the city centre over the holiday period.
Work will continue on the northern side (near Countdown) through to early autumn. We’re planning to start work in zone 2 on the southern side (near ANZ) in March 2024. We’ll provide more information about what to expect in 2024 in our next newsletter.
Get in touch
If you have any questions about construction, you can reach our contractor JFC’s Stakeholder Liaison Manager Sally Logan at sally.logan@jfcltd.co.nz or 021 420 794.
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Loading zones in Victoria StreetUntil Christmas, the section of Victoria Street West between Elliott Street and Queen St remains one-way only and there is no entry from Queen Street. Vehicle access to the eastbound section of Victoria Street is via Elliott Street.
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Events bring people to midtownAfter the success of the first Midtown Street Party in September, Auckland Council is planning more events and we would love your midtown business to be involved!
The council hosts these events to attract more people to the area and remind them of all the great things that midtown has to offer.
The next free public event, planned for Thursday 30 November from 6pm to 9pm, will activate areas across midtown including the Strand Arcade, Elliott Street, Darby Street and Victoria Street. This event will include Christmas markets, street art, live music, and an extravaganza of African fashion, DJs and drummers.
And on Saturday 16 December, we’re hosting the Midtown Christmas market at Strand Arcade, where you can find goodies ranging from cute and cool to dainty and delicious. There will also be artisan crafts and vintage – all handmade or homemade.
We’re also planning more events for 2024. If your business would like to participate in future events, please contact us at midtown@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz .
We welcome expressions of interest from all ground/first floor businesses in the midtown area. We can help with ideas for activities, offers and/or promotions if needed.
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Support for small businessesThe Midtown Small Business Support Programme offers tailored support and services to help small businesses grow resilience and adapt to the changing environment, and prepare to take advantage of the opportunities that will come with the City Rail Link and the regeneration of midtown. The programme includes:
- Free business connector service
- Microgrants of up to $3000
- Support for expanded outdoor dining
For more information, check out the link above or contact us at midtown@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz.
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Luna Bakery on Elliott Street
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