Kia ora

July has been another month of intense progress at both Karanga-a-Hape and Te Waihorotiu stations, as teams push toward the finish line.

Passenger Information Displays (PIDs) are now installed on platforms at both stations, ready to deliver real-time train information. Turnstiles, escalators, and other key systems are undergoing testing and commissioning, bringing the project ever closer to completion.

Above ground, asphalt works are a focus. At Karanga-a-Hape, road surfacing is underway in Beresford Square, while at Te Waihorotiu, the streetscape upgrade is progressing with multiple layers of asphalt now laid along Mayoral Drive and Albert Street. 

Each station is also receiving its final architectural touches, from the striking pupurangi shells and maramataka installation at Karanga-a-Hape Station, to the intricate ceiling designs and sleek customer facilities at Te Waihorotiu.

Read on to see more highlights from both stations. If you have any questions or concerns about our works at Karanga-a-Hape or Te Waihorotiu Stations please don’t hesitate to contact us via email at karangahape@linkalliance.co.nz or aotea@linkalliance.co.nz.  You can also call us on 0800 CRL TALK (275 8255).

Ngā mihi,
The Karanga-a-Hape and Te Waihorotiu Station teams.

Karanga-a-Hape Station - Mercury Lane

Watch five years of transformation in under four minutes.
From the final days of Mercury Plaza in December 2019 to the stunning reveal of the sky element almost five years later, this timelapse from the top of the George Courts building captures the dramatic evolution of the Mercury Lane entrance to our new CRL Karanga-a-Hape Station.

As an underground station, much of the work happened out of sight, but what unfolded above ground was spectacular – from site establishment to the towering red silos, to the rise of the entrance building and finally, the reveal of its striking façade.

Above ground, demobilisation and finishing works are progressing rapidly. The temporary access shaft, which for years was the only underground access for plant and personnel, is now being filled in. The image above shows a long-reach excavator lowering aggregate into the shaft, where it is spread by a second excavator and then compacted with a vibrating roller. In the coming weeks, the steel sheet piles that act as a frame for the shaft will be removed.

At the Mercury Lane entrance to Karanga-a-Hape Station, a striking new feature is taking shape above the entrance foyer: three massive pupurangi (kauri snail) shells that pay homage to the kauri forests that once graced the Karangahape ridgeline.

The images above and below show the installation - and an artist's rendition of what the finished product will look like.

Each of the three shells is made from anodised aluminium. The largest shell spans an impressive 9.8 metres in diameter, while the other two are 6.5 metres. Once fully installed, they will hang between 8.6 and 7 metres above the ground, creating a feeling of depth and dimension. In total, 225 unique pieces of aluminium will be used for the three shells.

Proudly fabricated in New Zealand, the installation pushes the boundaries of what is possible when working with aluminium.

Designed by artist and carver, Reuben Kirkwood (Ngāi Tai), the shells reflect ancient symbolism from Waitākere and celebrate the deep connection between people and the natural world, symbolising the ongoing health of the environment and the enduring life force of the great forest of Tāne.

The images below show the concourse area at the bottom of Mercury Lane where terrazzo paver installation has just been completed. In the second image, a frame for permanent wayfinding has been installed at the bottom of the escalator.

At the Mercury Lane entrance, three sets of escalators take passengers to and from street level to platform level, all of which are in the final stages of testing and commissioning. The image below shows all three sets – but only just! 

A fleeting glimpse of the first set of escalators, from street level to the first underground level can be seen in the top left of the picture. The second set – a suspended escalator stretching across the bottom of the picture – connects the first underground level to the second underground level. And the third set of escalators, which travel from the second underground level all the way to platform level, can be seen behind the stadium column in the centre of the picture.

Karanga-a-Hape Station - Beresford Square

Throughout July, a significant focus has been on above-ground works such as stormwater drainage and catch-pit installation. With these works now complete, the team is focusing on the road surface and are preparing to lay the final layers of asphalt in Beresford Square, as seen below.

The large tree pit in the centre of Beresford Square (below) is complete and will soon be home to five mature rewarewa trees, scheduled to be planted in September.

Within the station entrance, the newly installed sun completes a representation of the Maramataka, the traditional Māori lunar calendar, as seen above. Led by artist Reuben Kirkwood (Ngāi Tai), the flowing metal rods arching above the concourse (shown below) symbolise the passage of time and the changing seasons, while carved swamp kauri discs depict the moon’s phases.

The large aluminium sun was hand-winched into place by our expert crew with extreme care and a touch of nervousness. They’ve done a fantastic job. The newly installed sun, the final piece of the puzzle, brings warmth and light to both the artwork and the station entrance building.

Above and below, turnstiles lined up for installation at the Beresford Square entrance. Critical station elements such as ventilation, emergency lighting and turnstiles are connected to fire-rated (red) cables, designed to remain operational for up to 2 hours in the event of a fire.  

View from the bottom, looking up, 33 metres beneath Pitt Street. Testing and commissioning is ongoing for the longest escalator in the country (40-metres) which will take people to and from Beresford Square.  

Karanga-a-Hape Station - tunnels

On the platforms, passenger information displays (PIDs) have been installed. The image below shows the PIDs on Platform 2 – the southbound platform to Maungawhau Station. These displays provide real-time information for passengers, including upcoming train departures, arrival times, service disruptions, and announcements. Note the recently installed LED uplighting above the concave wall panels.

Karanga-a-Hape Station - upcoming works

Upcoming works for the remainder of quarter three include the removal of hoardings around the site, backfilling of the access shaft and removal of the sheet piles, completion of asphalt work in Beresford Square, and filling in the tree pit. Ongoing architectural work includes installation of the remaining pupurangi shells and finishing works in back-of-house areas.

Te Waihorotiu Station update - streetscapes

Heavy rainfall early in July posed a challenge to the streetscape upgrade programme.  The impact was felt most keenly in Mayoral Drive and resulted in a delay to completing the structural asphalt.  Once the sun returned, the basecourse dried out and three layers of asphalt were completed.  A final layer of asphalt, the running course, will be laid across Mayoral Drive and Albert Street before those streets fully reopen to traffic later this year.
Further to the north, the upgrade of the Albert Street slip lane is progressing nicely.  Bluestone kerbs and pavers complement the adjacent heritage bluestone wall, which is also nearing completion.   

Above: Finishing touches to the historic bluestone wall are underway with the installation of the piers and rails – stone columns with sections of iron handrails in-between.  There is little room for error with the drilling of holes in stone that provide a stable footing for the rails. 

Above: Looking east up the ramp from Te Waihorotiu Station’s Victoria Street exit to the towers of Victoria Street. Paving is complete, the posts for the handrails are in place, and cladding along the ramp edge is complete.  Te Hā Noa cycleway runs along the northern edge of this ramp.  After linemarking and final checks for public safety, the cycleway will open in August.

The streets around Te Waihorotiu Station continue the convention of street names etched in stone pavers.  These Mayoral Drive pavers marked the significant milestone of being the final street name to be laid.

Te Waihorotiu Station update

Rail patrons won’t be caught short as they pass through Te Waihorotiu Station.  The sleek white tiled customer bathrooms in the Wellesley Street building are almost complete, with fully accessible and infant changing facilities provided. 

The three ‘back of house’ floors above the station entry are nearing completion and the fitout of the customer service spaces is underway.  Platform signage is functioning and another stunning ceiling is revealed.

Remember to look up when you pass through the Victoria Street end of the station concourse.  The intricate ceiling, shown above, is comprised of hundreds of individually laid aluminium sections.  The design represents the mingling of water or people.  The ceiling is specific to this part of Te Waihorotiu Station to reflect both Waihorotiu, the stream that runs underground, and the many people anticipated to mingle at this busy juncture of the station.

Electronic signs at the platform level are ready and waiting for real-time information.  Across the Auckland rail network, these signs display train information, including arrival times, destinations, and any service disruptions, to help passengers navigate the system efficiently and safely. 

Te Waihorotiu Station - upcoming works

Q3 will see major progress in the streets and spaces around the station.  The CRL- constructed section of Te Hā Noa will be complete, the northern arm of the Albert Street slip lane will be finished and the reconstruction of the intersection of  Wyndham Street and Albert Street will be underway. 

Works outside Crowne Plaza on Albert Street will be largely complete in September.  Meanwhile in the station, toilet and changing facilities will be finished and final areas of cladding and flooring will be completed – then the cleaning and polishing begins!