Kia Ora

April has seen our Karanga-a-Hape Station team begin a new phase of works, with trench excavation for new ducts to futureproof the neighbourhood's power supply underway in Mercury Lane. These works require the temporary closure of the lane to vehicles and will be delivered in two stages, with different detour routes and access for residents to minimise disruption.

You can find all the information you need about this temporary closure on the City Rail Link (CRL) website.

A note regarding upcoming drone flights around our station sites. Our survey team will be out and about each month capturing aerial drone footage across the project. While the team's typical flight plan and path includes the project area, local roads and the rail corridor, some circumstances may require the drone to fly a wider path such as wind conditions or project requirements. We don't expect the drone to cause any disturbance to day-to-day activity. Please contact us if you have any concerns or questions.

Regarding our works at Karanga-a-Hape Station, please don't hesitate to contact us via email at karangahape@linkalliance.co.nz or call us on 0800 CRL TALK (275 8255) and press option 4.

Ngā mihi,
The Karanga-a-Hape Station team

Works updates - Mercury Lane

At Mercury Lane the fit-out works continue with painting, bracket installation, cable pulling and gib-stopping underway. The image below shows the foyer of the entrance building taking shape with the team undertaking preparatory works for the architectural front of house fit-out.

The architectural render below gives an indication of the job ahead, with porcelain paneling and anodized aluminium pupurangi shells (kauri snails) to be installed later in the year. The pupurangi shells pay homage to the kauri forests that once graced the neighbourhood.

Installation of the tunnel ventilation system (TVS) at Mercury Lane is progressing well with the image above (from the second floor of the entrance building) showing an attenuator, designed to minimise fan noise.

Mercury Lane has three out of the five fans for the station, with all five fans working in unison to ensure an even flow of fresh air on the platforms. The image below gives an indication of the extent of the system, with a vent shaft connecting the fan room on the second floor of the entrance building to a ventilation level just above the platforms.

Escalator installation continues with work on the final set of escalators in Mercury Lane underway. In the image below the first piece for the final bank of escalators is being winched into place. This stretch of escalators will take commuters from the street-level entrance to the first underground level. All of the escalators in Karanga-a-Hape Station are in banks of three, with their directional flow adjustable according to demand.

On top of the Mercury Lane entrance building, framing for the roof is nearing completion. The roof protects the structure from any potential water ingress.

Works update - Beresford Square

Work outside the Beresford Station entrance progressed nicely in April with the waterproof layer now 90% complete. The image below shows bitumen rolls installed (black section) to the front of the station entrance building. This protective layer is now covered in concrete, an aggregate layer and another layer of concrete will be installed before the final layer of pavers can be laid.

The testing and commissioning for the 40-metre escalator is now underway. The image below provides a glimpse under the scaffolding of the longest escalator in the country. The team are currently installing the treads and handrails.

The structure of the TVS (tunnel ventilation system) is starting to develop as massive attenuators are installed. The ventilation fan (below) is one of two, which will be lifted onto the concrete plinth in the centre of the image above and then connected to the funnel of the attenuators. The bi-directional fans can move a combined 130,000 litres of air a second.

A new month, a new First Thursday!

The start of a new month can mean only one thing around the square…First Thursday!

Taking place this Thursday (2 May), a mix of DJs and live musicians will take over the Pocket Park from 4:30pm so time to have a dance with your K-Road whānau into the Autumnal evening.

Alternatively, you can soak up the sounds while wandering through the Karangahape Night Market, along the south side of Beresford Square from 5-9pm.

For a full list of the line up, and all of the shenanigans taking place along Karangahape road, check out the First Thursday Facebook page.

As always, First Thursdays is only possible with the help of Alpha Markets and the Karangahape Business Association.

Works update - Station fit-out

Across Karanga-a-Hape Station, from the entrance buildings at Mercury Lane and Beresford Square, to the tunnel platforms beneath Karangahape Road, a focus on fit-out work continues.

A team of 174 workers are hauling and installing more than 500km of cables that run through the platforms and entrance buildings. To keep on-target, a backshift crew of 60 workers continue the cable pulling effort, working from 2:30 pm through to midnight.

Over 250km of cable has been pulled in so far. The team has also installed 14km of containment (cable trays) with a further 2km to go.

The image above shows a collection of cables at their final destination – the cabinet in the bottom left of the picture. Once the cabinet installs are complete the cables will be connected. The image below shows a room full of cabinets waiting to be installed and connected.

The cables connect to 13,500 devices throughout the station, which includes 3,300 lights, switches, power points and more. There are also 3,500 communication devices, including speakers, cameras, sensors and signalling equipment.

Works update - Platform tunnels

The action within the platform tunnels throughout April has also been focused on fit-out activities. The image above gives an indication of what’s underway. At the bottom-right of the picture the concave GRC (glass reinforced concrete) panels are almost all installed and with 500-metres of panelling in total, the team are 98% complete. The remaining panels have items behind them such as fire suppression equipment, which needs to be installed before 100% of the panelling can go in.

Above the GRC panels is a line of aluminium signage band panels, with more than half of the 500-metres now installed.

In the ceiling (in the pictures above and below) the aluminium battens are being installed. A soundproofing layer will also be installed between the battens and the cable trays to both hide the cables and assist the battens in dampening noise to ensure that PA announcements are audible.

Meet Ali Alshami, Façade and Roof Supervisor

What does your job at the Link Alliance entail?

I am the Façade and Roof Supervisor for both Mercury Lane & Beresford Square entrances at Karanga-a-Hape Station.

Where did you grow up?

I jumped between Jordan and New Zealand growing up, so I enjoyed the best of both worlds.

New Zealand’s largest Data Centre to date.

What do you do when you are not working?

I love to ride my motorcycle, play football and try the best food places around town. Above all, I am a family man at heart.

Any fun facts about yourself you want to share?

I was born with a “nuchal cord” and survived low oxygen to the point I turned fully blue at birth. These days the closest I have been to the edge is hitting 300km/h on a motorbike (in a controlled environment).

Jargon buster - Bitumen

Bitumen is a substance produced through the distillation of crude oil and it can be a either a sticky, black liquid or a solid mass. Bitumen is used for waterproofing at Karanga-a-Hape Station, as seen below.