Together with JV partner Hawkins, McConnell Dowell will be responsible for installation of a stormwater diversion tunnel by pipejacking, strengthening a part of an existing Sewer Main, and construction of a 350m cut and cover tunnel – all within the Auckland CBD.

The project will be particularly interesting due to its location on one of the busiest streets in the CBD of New Zealand’s business city. It involves moving numerous services, maintaining traffic flow, meeting extremely strict health and safety conditions, numerous consents aiming to minimise disruption for businesses and residents, and extensive liaison with a wide range of stakeholders.

More than 100 years in the making, the City Rail Link will connect Auckland's existing rail infrastructure to double the speed and capacity of the rail network and allow for future expansion to the North Shore.

It will be built in two 3.4km twin tunnels up to 42m below the city centre, and when completed, will extend the existing rail line underground through Britomart to Albert, Vincent and Pitt Sts, and then cross beneath Karangahape Rd and the Central Motorway Junction to Symonds St before joining the western line at Eden Terrace. Two new stations near Aotea Square and Karangahape Road, and a redeveloped station at Mount Eden, will also be completed.

Benefits are expected to include $1.30 of benefit for every $1 spent, halved travel times for many commuters, and contribution to the transformation of Auckland into a truly international city.

Find out more about the CRL project at https://at.govt.nz/projects-roadworks/city-rail-link/