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Read the latest Link Alliance Aotea newsletter -
Wellesley & Victoria Streets Intersection Closures
Latest works update
04 November 2020
Aotea Station construction works continue at full pace in all areas of our site. In addition, we have more art and project information on more hoardings, pedestrian and traffic changes in all zones, and the sun continues to shine!
Our normal work hours are from 7am to 10pm Monday to Friday, and 7am to 7pm Saturday. However, we are now increasing work activity on Sundays where possible in order to minimise disruption to businesses while they are closed.
We continue to welcome your comments, feedback and questions. If you wish to get in touch, please feel free to email the team at aotea@linkalliance.co.nz or phone 0800 CRL TALK and select option 3.
Ngā manaakitanga
The Aotea Station Team
South Zone
We have now completed 23 out of Aotea Station's 145 diaphragm wall (D-wall) panels! Prior to concrete pouring, each panel first needs a guide wall to help guide the machinery and ensure positioning of the D-Wall is correct. Once the concrete is poured, the guide wall is removed, and the "breaking down" of the top section of the concrete takes place so the d-wall is at exactly the correct height.
This construction technique is an important component of the top-down construction method, which is in part, how Aotea Station will be built. A key advantage of the top-down approach is that it allows the superstructure (above-ground station entrance building) to be constructed at the same time as the substructure (underground parts of the station).
Aotea Station flat top tower crane arrives - and it needs a name!
In September, a large crawler crane, hydrofraise rig and clamshell grab-crane moved from the south zone to begin D-wall construction in the central zone.
Once they had moved, a flat top tower crane arrived to the south zone in pieces so that other work in the area could continue. The tower crane was put up over two days on a weekend.
Deliveries have since been coming in thick and fast, putting our crane to very good use. The next time you walk past the tower crane, see if you can spot any people up there - it is fascinating to watch the crew hard at work at such a height!
Our crane is also looking for a name! If you have any suggestions, please send them in!
Mayoral Drive canopy gets a trim
One of the current activities on Mayoral Drive involves cutting back the building canopy above Western Union & NZ Post, Crayon Nail & Beauty, and Christian Science Reading Room. We need to do this so our d-wall plant can move into the area at a later stage to construct Aotea Station's walls.
To help keep dust to a minimum and to make the construction site a little more aesthetically pleasing for people on Mayoral Drive, we are installing some scrim with art designed by New Zealand artists. We are also working hard to ensure businesses are happy with the wayfinding that is in place around the site, helping people to find these great places.
Central zone
Diaphragm wall construction in the central zone
Below is our plant in their new temporary home on Albert Street - our hydrofraise rig, clamshell grab-crane and crawler crane. They are big and at times loud, but are fascinating to watch and pretty incredible in what they can achieve!
The top picture shows our grab-crane, while the others show our hydrofraise ("Sandrine") and one of our cranes. Together, these three pieces of kit enable us to construct the station walls.
We aim to pour 1 or 2 diaphragm wall panels per week. Diaphragm walls, which are also known as “D-walls”, are waterproof structural reinforced concrete walls and will make up most of the foundation walls of Aotea Station.
Crowne Plaza airbridge removal continues
Significant work continues near the Huawei Centre and Crowne Plaza Hotel on Albert Street. Access remains at all times, including to the Atrium Carpark.
The airbridge removal work is being completed in stages. In the service lane below this property, we are continuing with utilities upgrade work and are building temporary guide walls in preparation for d-wall construction.
We have also installed a hoarding in front of Sierra Cafe, which is now covered in art by New Zealand artist, Jon Tootill. Go check it out if you haven't yet, and grab a coffee or muffin from Sierra Cafe!
Albert St/Victoria St intersection work
Over the next two weeks we are doing utilities upgrade works on the corner of Albert Street and Victoria Street. We are conscious of our neighbours, AA Centre and restaurants on Victoria Street including Subway and Fuga Modern Japanese Brasserie and are keeping in contact with them as work progresses. Access is maintained at all times to these businesses.
We are also routinely monitoring noise levels to ensure we are meeting our consent conditions. Using noise mats is mandatory for any noisy works, and they should be visually concealing the source of the noise at all times.
North Zone
Bluestone Wall deconstruction
The historic bluestone wall will start to be carefully deconstructed beginning next week. The deconstruction will be done by the experienced team from Auckland Stonemasons Ltd. Each block will have a unique identification number written on it which coincides with a matrix that our planning team have created. The stones will be removed from site and stored with Auckland Stonemasons Ltd until we reconstruct the wall by 2023, about 1.5 meters east of its current position with the station tunnel box running parallel.
Utilities relocation and piling works continue
Work continues in the multiple pits open on Victoria and Albert Streets. The Vector Substation relocation works will see the pits being finished and closed in November, followed by other utility service provider relocations and upgrades.
Piling is continuing along Albert Street towards Victoria Street. We have installed 156 piles to date with another 250 to go.
Thank you for all of your patience with the various traffic changes that continue to occur across the site. We appreciate your cooperation.
Brochure on Aotea works
November 2019
Aotea Station brochure (PDF 2MB)
Where can I go for more information?
Project updates – sign up for monthly project e-newsletters at aotea@linkalliance.co.nz.
Phone – call us on 0800 CRL TALK, option 3.
Contact
If you have any questions or concerns about the Link Alliance works, please email aotea@linkalliance.co.nz or phone 0800 CRL TALK and press 3. For the Albert St work between Customs and Wyndham Street, please press 2 to talk to those contractors, Connectus.