City Rail Link contract award

The City Rail Link (CRL) takes another significant step forward with the announcement today of the appointment of two construction consortia to commence the first phase of the CRL construction in the Downtown area.

Project director Chris Meale says there was wide interest from the New Zealand construction industry and Auckland Transport has appointed two Joint Venture contractors for the work; Downer NZ and Soletanche Bachy JV and Connectus (McConnell Dowell and Hawkins JV) for the first phase of design at a cost of about $3 million. The next phase will provide for a negotiated contract to construct the City Rail Link.

The Downer lead joint venture has been chosen to progress the CRL work through and under Britomart Station and Queen Street to the Downtown Shopping Centre site with construction likely to start in early 2016.

The contract includes establishing temporary accommodation for Britomart Station’s ticketing and customer service operations, underpinning the historic former Chief Post Office building, to allow the construction of the rail tunnels beneath and reinstating Britomart Station and upgrading urban space and surrounding roads.

“We are excited to have won a contract for what will be the most significant improvement to Auckland’s transport network since the opening of the Auckland Harbour Bridge,” says Chris Moloney of Downer.

The Connectus Consortium will construct the cut and cover tunnels under and along Albert St from Customs St to Wyndham St. The work is likely to start in October with the relocation of a major stormwater line in Albert Street between Swanson and Wellesley Streets.

"McConnell Dowell and Hawkins have a combined history of over 100 years in infrastructure construction in New Zealand. It's enormously satisfying to be working together on a transport project that is helping to shape the future," says Roger McRae, managing director, McConnell Dowell.
"Auckland’s population is set to grow rapidly over the next 20 years, reaching close to two million with nearly four out of every 10 New Zealanders calling the city home.”

Auckland Transport’s Chris Meale says: “We are now definitely on the way to building a key missing link in our city’s public transport network. Once completed, the CRL will turn a one way cul-de-sac rail system at Britomart, into a two way through system that will be able to carry 30,000 people an hour, providing an efficient and reliable transport choice for Aucklanders.”

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