Britomart at half-way stage

The $204 million Britomart Project, the biggest construction project by a council in New Zealand, is now at the half-way stage of completion.

Contractors have finished excavating more than 190,000 cubic metres of reclaimed earth in the “big dig” first-stage of the project, more than 13,000 truckloads of earth have been taken from the downtown site.

The station’s concrete beams and walls are complete, with the floor and roof slabs nearly finished. The construction of the station platforms, various plant and control rooms are under way, with service item deliveries and installation started. Eight of the 12 volcano-shaped skylight cones have been completed.

Cr Douglas Armstrong, chairman of the Auckland City Council Finance and Corporate Business Committee which oversees Britomart construction, said work was progressing well on the project which is due for completion in June.

The Britomart Project is a transport, heritage and urban renewal project which will revitalise the downtown area. It includes a new railway station, a bus interchange, restoration of the Chief Post Office, the preservation of adjoining buildings and upgrading of surrounding streets and public spaces.

The 5.2 hectare site is bounded by Britomart Place, Quay and Customs streets and Queen Elizabeth Square.

The Britomart Transport Centre has received grants from Infrastructure Auckland, Transfund and the Auckland Regional Council. On completion the centre will be managed by Auckland Regional Transport Network Ltd (ARTNL).

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