The Porters Avenue level crossing has permanently closed to vehicles.
Closing the level crossing to vehicles will ensure the public’s safety during and after construction of the City Rail Link.
Latest notifications
16 November 2020
Over the past few months our team have been busy undertaking service diversions and establishing sites in preparation to start construction of the Porters Avenue pedestrian footbridge. Piling works commence in November 2020 and we expect the bridge to be completed by November 2021. In addition to the bridge structure, tie in works will include excavation and retaining walls for the railway corridor and new drainage systems.
The Porters Ave footbridge is a steel box-section span bridge which sits on reinforced concrete piers and will provide pedestrian and cycle connection over the rail corridor. A box-section bridge is one where the main beams are comprised of girders in the shape of a hollow box, and is typically used to span railways and motorways.
Bridge foundations will be constructed using drilling rigs supported by mobile cranes. Pile capping beams and pier construction will be built using a mix of formwork systems. The bridge span sections will be fabricated offsite and transported for installation in two segments. A large mobile crane will lift the span sections and manoeuvre them onto of the bridge piers and temporary propping. This will be undertaken outside our normal working hours either during a ‘Block of Line’ (when KiwiRail close the track to undertake maintenance), or at night when trains aren’t running.
The remaining bridge components such as stairs and lifts will be installed during normal operating hours. Once the bridge span and balustrades are finished, the service connections and cut overs will take place. The bridge may be required to open to pedestrian traffic ahead of the installation and commissioning of the lifts at each end.
What to expect
There’ll be noise, vibration and dust generated from equipment on site such as drilling rigs, mobile cranes, excavators, hi-ab trucks, concrete pumps and elevated work platforms (EWPs). These big machines will be used for excavation, piling activities, concrete works, lifting materials and working from height access. We’ll be using six and eight wheel trucks to remove spoil and deliver materials and concrete trucks will be making regular deliveries for bridge concrete works.
As with all our construction activity, we will be monitoring for noise, dust and vibration and have monitoring equipment in place that will alert us if we are going over set limits. We will also be:
Using attended monitoring during construction to measure noise and vibration levels so we can make adjustments to our construction methods, if necessary.
Receiving deliveries within normal working hours (where possible).
Scheduling concrete deliveries within normal working hours (where possible).
Keeping you informed and giving plenty of advance notice about any works that need to take place outside of normal working hours.
We’ll be working between 7am and 10pm Monday to Friday and 7am – 7pm on Saturday. We will keep you informed regarding any work that falls outside of these hours, further details and any changes.
What is ahead
New walking and cycling connections
Expected to open in the second half of 2021, the new overbridge will connect Wynyard Road and Porters Avenue for people on foot. It will be accessible to everyone with a new lift and cycle ramp.
We will then construct a rail trench for the new CRL tracks. This trench will carry trains to the CRL platform in the new Mt Eden Station and, once completed, will connect to the new rail tunnels.
Prioritising public safety
We recognise that the closure will be inconvenient for people but it is the only way to ensure safety during and after construction.
If the level crossing was to remain open for vehicles during construction, it would require us to use traffic management across the rail corridor, which creates an unacceptable safety hazard.
Once construction has finished, four rail tracks will pass Porters Avenue with two dedicated CRL tracks lowering into a trench that will lead to the new tunnels. This complex layout means that it is not possible to maintain a safe rail crossing between Porters Avenue and Wynyard Road.
Other permanent options were considered and, in late 2017, Auckland Transport asked for the public’s feedback on these. Removing the rail crossing to vehicles permanently and building a new pedestrian and cycle overbridge was chosen as it is the safest, most cost efficient and least disruptive option.
Private vehicles
If you drove along Porters Avenue and Wynyard Road, you need to plan a new route for your journey and allow extra time to reach your destination.
Consider using View Road as an alternative route to reach Mt Eden Road or Dominion Road.
People on foot
Access across the level crossing for people on foot, with a bike, mobility aid, scooter or pram will be maintained at all times during construction.
We will make the level crossing as safe as possible but ask that you please take care on the uneven surface the rail lines create.
Stay safe around tracks by removing your headphones and not using mobile devices anywhere near the rail corridor.
Businesses remain open
Businesses in the area will remain open while construction is underway.
Safe access to businesses by foot and for vehicles will remain open at all times. Wayfinding signage will ensure it remains easy to visit businesses in the area.
What else is happening in Mt Eden?
The Mt Eden area will undergo significant and exciting development as part of the City Rail Link project. To enable this development, a number of temporary closures will be in place in Mt Eden.
Temporary closure of Mt Eden station
In July 2020, the Mt Eden train station closed for about four years to enable the Link Alliance to construct the re-developed station building, the CRL tunnels and twin track rail lines.
Trains will continue to run on a single line through Mt Eden but will not stop to let people on or off at the platform.
The station needed to close to ensure the safety of the public and our workers. If trains were to stop at Mt Eden, it would mean people who get on and off would enter a live and complex construction site.
By not stopping at Mt Eden, trains on the Western Line can continue to run on time with the same number of services.
The new, redeveloped Mt Eden station is expected to open in 2024 and will have platforms for both the Western and City Rail Link services.
Overbridge
Information Flyer
Porters Avenue and Wynyard Road Level Crossing Closure information sheet (PDF 355KB)
Find out more
If you would like more information or to sign up to our monthly newsletters, email the team at mteden@linkalliance.co.nz or phone 0800 CRL TALK and press option 5 for Mt Eden works.