Kia Ora

Karangahape Road is a hive of activity with Auckland Transport and Vector conducting works within the neighbourhood, as well as the Link Alliance’s work on Karanga-a-Hape Station.

The big milestone at Karanga-a-Hape Station this month is the installation of street level pavers is underway. More on this a little later.

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 update - Beresford Square

Another exciting phase of the job is underway at Karanga-a-Hape Station’s Beresford Square entrance with installation of the surface level pavers.

These pavers are what you will walk across as you enter and exit the station entrance.

Each paver can weigh up to 75kg and the team at Beresford Square will install roughly 21,000 pavers, from the size you see in the images to much smaller pavers closer to the adjacent buildings.

In the first image, you can see the bedding that sits between the paver and the smooth concrete base.

The second image shows a member of the team tapping down a paver to ensure it is level.

This process is repeated for each paver and after they are left to set, the team check they are level again before grouting between the pavers can take place. The final stage is to wash and seal the pavers.

The final image shows several pavers having been installed, as well as the variations in colours, with six different colours being used to create the designed pattern.

Behind the station entrance work continues on the service block, shown below. Canopy outriggers have been installed around the northeast corner with the glass canopy scheduled to be installed before Christmas. When the station opens this corner will be home to a retail outlet.

Also above ground, the team are making excellent progress with the Vector ducting works in Pitt Street. Ducting, cabling and paving works have now been completed from Karangahape Road to the Chatham Apartments, with a small amount of work around Poynton Terrace remaining. This work serves to futureproof the electricity supply in the surrounding neighbourhood as it grows.

Beneath Beresford Square, back-office rooms continue to be readied. The image below shows the MNO (mobile network operator) room filled with cabinets and cables waiting to be connected. This room holds third party equipment for companies such as Spark and One NZ so that devices will work underground.

Other highlights at Beresford Square include testing and commissioning of lifts, installation of porcelain panels and cable installation.

Sun-soaked evenings return to K'Road

First Thursday returns to K’Road next week, Thursday 7 November with an extra incentive for the night with Art Late also returning to the neighbourhood.

First Thursday events will be taking place throughout the neighbourhood, including a musical lineup at The Lounge Stage (between The Lebanese Grocer Coffee and The Northern Line on Beresford Square) and the Tattoo Flash and DJ at Bruce Tattoo on the northern side of the square.

Check out the First Thursday Facebook page for all event information. First Thursdays is only possible with the help of the Karangahape Business Association.

Works updates - Mercury Lane

The image below shows the entrance to Karanga-a-Hape Station from Mercury Lane with the steel and glass lift shaft hidden beneath protective plastic sheets. In the coming months the team will work on the feature ceiling here, with anodised aluminium kauri snail (pupurangi) shells to soon be installed.

Behind the lift shaft (seen below) glass shadow boxing – which creates a sense of depth – and aluminium panelling have been installed in the ticketing area. To create a sense of continuity, the aluminium panelling is repeated on the station platforms in the housing for the passenger screen doors. The station is futureproofed for installation of these at a later date, if required.

Architectural panelling continues to be installed throughout the building. The image below shows newly installed porcelain panels in the escalator landing area on the first underground level. This is the panelling that passengers will see as they descend 27 metres from street level to platform level.

Other highlights from Mercury Lane in October include testing and commissioning works on the lift, ongoing cabling and commissioning of the uninterruptable power supply (UPS).

Cable Pulling

The cable pulling crew are now on the home stretch having pulled 557km out of 565km of cable.

Meet Vivek Verma, Deputy Building Information Modelling (BIM) Coordinator

What does your job at the Link Alliance entail?

As a Deputy BIM Coordinator, I create and maintain 3D models using BIM software, collaborating with architects, engineers, and other design and construction team members to ensure the models are accurate and meet project requirements.

I use these models to identify and resolve conflicts or issues during the design phase. In this role, I play a crucial part in ensuring the project benefits from the accurate, efficient, and collaborative use of digital models, which helps streamline workflows, reduce errors, and optimize project outcomes.

I grew up in the state of five rivers called Punjab in India. I worked in Dubai for seven years and moved to Auckland two years ago after getting married.

I started working as a CAD draughtsman and then spent five years as a BIM modeler at Al Shafar United in Dubai.

I love to spend time with my family, especially with my daughter, Safia. I take her for long walks. I also volunteer with different organizations to help the community.

I’m an introvert, which means my social battery runs out faster than my phone’s battery! Honestly, I’m not a fan of it.

Works update - Platform Tunnels

As with the station entrance buildings, architectural fitout work continues to be the core focus in the platform tunnels. The image below is a good indication of progress with the Passenger Information Display casings having been installed in the southbound platform.

As part of the fitout process there’s an impressive array of devices being installed in the ceiling. The image above shows a PA speaker (black circle), and to the right, a UHF antenna that forms part of the system that allows drivers to communicate over the PMR (private mobile radio). The image below shows the other half of the PMR system with a VHF antenna (white cup) complementing the UHF antenna.

Elsewhere between the architectural battens are smoke detectors (below left) and CCTV cameras (below right).

It’s not just the ceilings getting the fitout treatment, between the GRC (Glass Reinforced Concrete) panels fire hydrant covers are being installed as shown above.

Above: A worker views the 203-metre platforms, looking south from the northbound platform.