June 2021- Wellesley Street & Victoria Street intersection closure switch
An intersection closure switch will take place in June 2021 to allow construction to continue for Aotea Station.
The switch will involve reopening Wellesley Street West, and then temporarily closing the Victoria Street and Albert Street intersection to vehicles. The intersection will always remain open to pedestrians. The reopening of Wellesley Street West is slightly later than anticipated due to the effect of Covid-19 lockdowns on construction.
The closure of the Victoria Street West and Albert Street intersection will have new impacts for our neighbours and users of the intersection, and the Link Alliance remains committed to minimising disruption and providing support to all those affected.
The Victoria Street / Albert Street intersection will be closed to vehicles until mid-2023, with the exact timing of the reopening to be confirmed following coordination with Auckland Council’s Te Hā Noa Linear Park project. This timing will also coincide with the streetscape and urban realm improvements for the intersection.
Mayoral Drive near Wellesley Street West will remain closed to vehicles until Aotea Station construction is complete in 2024.
How the switch will happen
Wellesley Street West will reopen to vehicles a few days before Victoria Street West closes to allow vehicles to adjust their journeys ahead of the closure of the Victoria Street West / Albert Street intersection.
AOTEA: Concept image of the new station
Access around the intersection closure
Access by foot will always be maintained to businesses and properties.
Temporary footpaths and wayfinding will be installed to ensure people are able to move with ease through the site.
Pedestrians still be able to use the intersection on foot, and cyclists will need to walk their wheels.
The Crowne Plaza service lane will remain open from Victoria Street for essential vehicles who access businesses in the area.
Temporary loading zones will be installed around the intersection closure to help businesses maintain on-time deliveries.
Auckland Transport bus changes
Most bus routes in the city centre will change due to the intersection closure switch, and many will be re-routed through Wellesley Street West once it has re-opened. These changes will be widely published through AT.govt.nz/BetterWay and other channels closer to the time.
Wellesley St West presently closed
In March 2020, the intersection of Wellesley Street West, Mayoral Drive and Albert Street closed to traffic .
The closure was required so that we can relocate underground services like gas, water and electricity away from the station footprint, making way for construction of the walls, roof and tunnels, that will form Aotea Station.
We are using a top-down construction method, building the station walls and ceiling first so we can re-open Wellesley Street West in 2021 and continue construction beneath it until 2024.
Traditional construction methods, would require excavating the station footprint and laying the foundations first and replacing the road last, Wellesley Street would need to remain closed until 2024.
Prioritising public transport
Buses can no longer travel through the intersection , and most bus routes in the city centre were re-routed from 23 February 2020.
To ensure we maintain reliable public transport during the closure, Auckland Transport are delivering new 24/7 priority bus lanes around the city.
Look for signage at the bus stops for the affected routes to let you know of these changes. Make sure to check your new route by using the AT Journey Planner or the AT Mobile app.
Driving a private vehicle
If you drive your car into the city centre, there will be delays to your journey. As construction for the City Rail Link and other major projects accelerate, it’s a good time to consider another way to travel into and around the city centre.
The easiest way to get to the city centre will be by public transport. You can check Auckland Transport’s Journey Planner to find out more.
People on foot will always be able to use the intersection
Temporary footpaths were installed so that you can still walk through and around the intersection. Look for wayfinding signage to help you navigate the intersection.
The map below shows where the footpaths are. These routes will change during construction.
To maintain accessibility for people using prams, walking aids or scooters, we will ensure the temporary footpaths are step-free.
If you ride a bike follow the signposted detour routes, or dismount and walk your wheels across the intersection.
Businesses open as usual
The businesses on Wellesley Street West, Mayoral Drive and Albert Street remain open while construction is underway. Impact is unavoidable, but we are determined to minimise this as much as practicably possible while we build the station.
Signage and safe access will be provided around the site to ensure you can reach the nearby businesses.
Find out more
Keep up to date with the Aotea Station build by bookmarking and checking this page regularly.
You can sign up to the Aotea Station’s monthly newsletter by clicking here or emailing aotea@linkalliance.co.nz
If you have any questions or concerns about project works in the Aotea area, please contact the Link Alliance Aotea Station team:
0800 CRL TALK (275 8255), option 3
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For more information about your journey into the city centre visit AT’s Journey Planner.