tunnelling-journal (1)
tunnelling-journal (1)
  • Home
  • Print
    • Subscribe
    • Tunnelling Journal
    • Breakthrough
    • ITA Activity Report
    • A&NZ Journal
    • WTC Preview
    • Media Kit
  • Digital
    • Newsletter
    • E-Shots
    • TJ Digital edition
    • Products Page
    • Media Kit
  • Conferences
    • BTS Conference and Exhibition
    • Cutting Edge 2022
  • Buyer’s Guide
  • Events Diary
  • Jobs
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Podcast

Home > Auckland City Rail Link completes tunnelling

Auckland City Rail Link completes tunnelling

Tris Thomas

Written by Tris Thomas on 15/09/2022 in News

Tagged: Auckland,Auckland City Rail Link,Herrenknecht

Auckland’s 1.6km twin-bore City Rail Link is a stage closer to completion following the 7.15m diameter Herrenknecht EPBM Dame Whina Cooper’s breakthrough at Te Waihorotiu Station (Aotea), marking the end of the tunnel boring phase of the transformational transport project.

306856392 397319182572756 5126977159686147141 n

Auckland Mayor Phil Goff welcomed the milestone for Auckland’s transport network: “The final tunnel breakthrough is the culmination of 13 months of hard work by the tunnelling teams. When complete, City Rail Link will make it faster and easier to get into and around central Auckland, immediately doubling the capacity of heavy rail and ultimately carrying up to 54,000 passengers per hour in peak times.

City Rail Link chief executive Dr Sean Sweeney said the major achievement of boring twin 1.6km tunnels up to 42m below New Zealand’s largest and busiest city was completed under the most challenging construction conditions.

“Building an underground rail network has never been attempted in New Zealand before,” says Dr Sweeney. “To have achieved what this team of 2,000 people have in the face of a global pandemic, multiple lockdowns, restricted Covid-working conditions and multiple other challenges is nothing short of extraordinary.

“There is so much more to do on the CRL project but the final breakthrough is an appropriate moment to pause and reflect on the extraordinary job our people have done in building these twin underground tunnels,” he says. “These tunnels are the cornerstone of the country’s first rapid transit rail network and will enable a transformational change in our biggest city.”

Key achievements during the tunnel boring phase include:

  • Completion of the tunnel-boring phase of the City Rail Link project, comprising two 1.6km tunnels
  • The TBM travelled more than 3.2km, placed 2,118 segment rings and removed 260,000 tonnes of spoil during the boring of the twin tunnels – each 1.6kms long from Maungawhau/Mount Eden Station to Te Waihorotiu Station (Aotea)
  • More than 64,200 cu m of concrete used to build the City Rail Link tunnels – the equivalent of 25 Olympic-sized swimming pools

Francois Dudouit, project director for Link Alliance, the group of companies building the main contract of tunnels and stations for CRL, says the swifter finishing of the second tunnel reflected operational improvements and efficiency gains.

“I’m absolutely delighted at the performance of our team of 2,000 people who have brought their very best to this important project,” says Dudouit. “Everyone understands we are building the future of public transport in Tāmaki Makaurau and it will leave a lasting legacy for all its people”.

Whānau of Dame Whina Cooper, including daughter Hinerangi, will be present at the event tonight: “What a journey this has been. I think back to our beginning at Mt Eden and am so grateful we are here, together at the end,” says Hinerangi Cooper-Puru. “Two wāhine toa have been with us throughout the TBM’s journey – my Mum and Saint Barbara (the patron saint of tunnellers). They have both endeavoured to protect our people and have guided us through to the completion of the tunnels.”

Now the tunnel boring is complete, Dame Whina Cooper will be dismantled and lifted above ground. It will then be transported to the port for shipping back to Herrenknecht. Parts of it will be repurposed.

Comments:

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Search

Digital Edition

More Like This

05/11/2022

Three consortia shortlisted for HARP tender

Three consortia shortlisted for HARP tender

UK Client, United Utilities has taken the next major step in the tender process for the Haweswater Aqueduct Resilience Programme…

31/08/2022

Thailand’s Samui Island water tunnel breakthrough

Thailand’s Samui Island water tunnel breakthrough

Thai contractor SCG (1995) Co Ltd. has celebrated the completion of excavation of a 1.1km tunnel for the the Samui…

12/01/2023

Get serious about silicosis, says UK parliamentary report

Get serious about silicosis, says UK parliamentary report

The UK’s All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Respiratory Health has just published a new report on silicosis.  Improving Silicosis…

  • Contact Us
  • Media Kit
  • Magazine Archive

Newsletter

The latest from the Tunneling Journal direct to your inbox.

Social



Enquiries

TGS Media Ltd
The Old Library
Webster House
Dudley Road
Tunbridge Wells
TN1 1LE
United Kingdom

© Tunnelling Journal. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy / Terms & Conditions. Admin

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.OkRead more