City Rail Link works to close off major Auckland intersection

Tuesday, 1 June 2021

An intersection closure switch will take place to allow construction to continue for Aotea Station. It's expected to be New Zealand's busiest train station. (First published June 2021)

A major Auckland intersection is set to close as construction on the $4.4 billion City Rail Link (CRL) project advances.

Wellesley St West in the central city will re-open to through traffic on June 27. Two days later, the nearby Victoria St and Albert St intersection will close for about two years.

The intersections are at the centre of construction of the Aotea underground station, which is expected to be the country’s busiest railway station when it opens in 2024.

CRL chief executive Dr Sean Sweeney said the construction of the Aotea station is massive in scale.

The Victoria and Albert Street intersection will close for about two years on June 29.

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“With a project of this size, disruption is unavoidable, but we are committed to keeping central Auckland moving,” he said.

“It is important to remember that the city centre around Aotea remains open for business and for leisure – it will always be a great place to work, to visit, and to support local.”

Aotea Station will be the country’s busiest rail station when it opens in 2024.

CRL closed Wellesley St West to traffic in March 2020 to move underground utilities like power, gas and telecommunication lines, and to begin the construction of the station.

Most bus routes will now return to Wellesley St West, which will have dedicated 24/7 bus lanes in each direction.

“Just like Wellesley St, the closure here allows us to safely and quickly move existing utilities before building the station walls, roof, platforms, and eventually the station’s entrances,” Sweeney said.

Aotea Station is being built using a top-down method.

That means the station’s roof is built first and then the station is excavated under it.

“Opting for this construction method will help reduce disruption at street level,” Sweeney said.

“We can re-open Wellesley St while station excavation and construction continues beneath for the next few years.

“We acknowledge there will be further challenges, but we’ll be doing our very best to manage them and to support the people who live and work beside us.”

City Rail Link will see two underground train tunnels and stations by late 2024.

The $4.4 billion investment will also transform Britomart station into a two-way through-station.