“Thank you” as Albert Street Contract Finishes
City Rail Link has this month completed and said farewell to one of its first ever contracts of work in central Auckland.
Contract 2 on Albert Street saw cut-and-cover trenches score the length of the road between Customs and Wyndham Streets to build twin underground rail tunnels beneath.
Once the 350-metre-long section of CRL tunnels were completed and backfilled, the contract also saw the enhancement of the resulting street scape – to better than what it was when the project started.
After five years of work, a new-look Albert Street now features wider footpaths, brand new street furniture and lighting, dozens of native trees and greater bus amenities.
City Rail Link Ltd’s Chief Executive, Dr Sean Sweeney, acknowledges digging up the busy city street took longer than expected and caused hardship for businesses in the area.
“It is never easy building a huge project like CRL in the middle of a city – disruption is inevitable. There have been robust discussions over the years, but we have worked hard with local businesses to find suitable solutions to offset impacts when work fell behind schedule including the introduction of rent assistances scheme for those who qualified,” Dr Sweeney says. “We hope we are leaving behind a rejuvenated and transformed street.”
Dr Sweeney thanked businesses and residents for their support.
“We cannot say ‘thank you’ enough - that support has played a big part in our work to transform wider Auckland and, at the same time, make this corner of the city a more attractive destination.”
Construction also involved relocating an important stormwater line and strengthening a section of a large sewer main.
Dr Sweeney says the end to CRL work in the lower end of Albert Street is an important milestone.
“Historically it is where CRL’s construction began, but when you look ahead it’s a timely reminder that CRL is a transformational project for the whole of Auckland. Alongside that city-wide view we have a commitment to leave a positive legacy locally where we have had to put our spades into the ground.”
Dr Sweeney acknowledged the work of CRL’s contractor Connectus, a McConnell Dowell and Downer joint venture, and the support from Auckland Council and Auckland City Centre Advisory Board.
“We hope the improvements we’ve made will reshape this part of town into a dynamic place to visit. There is a lot here to enjoy – the shops, restaurants, cafes and places to grab a coffee on the run. We know that CRL will rejuvenate central Auckland – the lower end of Albert Street is the first glimpse of what that rejuvenation will look like,” Dr Sweeney says.