CSP helps with traffic management in tight inner city spaces
New Zealand’s largest infrastructure project - the City Rail Link (CRL) - is continuing to progress through downtown Auckland. The Connectus Alliance - the contractors in charge of building the cut-and-cover trenches along Albert Street - have not only been battling the conditions created by Auckland’s very wet winter but have been trying to keep traffic moving and keep their workers safe by using CSP’s brightly-coloured temporary traffic barrier - ArmorZone™ TL-2 Plastic Barrier - suitable for speed zones up to 70 kph.
The CRL project is currently being undertaken in two key areas of the central city: at the Britomart Transport Centre and the neighbouring Commercial Bay development site and at the northern end of Albert Street.
The Britomart to Customs Street section includes the establishment of temporary accommodation for Britomart Station’s ticketing and customer service operations, strengthening of the historic former Chief Post Office building to allow the construction of the rail tunnels beneath and reinstating Britomart Station. Work in this area of the city will also includes the demolition of the Downtown Shopping Centre by Precinct Properties and construction of a 36-storey office tower which will add 37,000m² of office space to the city as well as a retail complex.
The Connectus Alliance has been building the cut-and-cover trenches along Albert Street which will eventually house part of the 3.4kms of twin tunnels that run from Britomart through to the Mt Eden station. There the CRL will connect with the existing Western rail line, with connections east and west to make the rail network two-way.
“Establishment of the site so that we can start bulk excavation has gone extremely well,” says Kava Aloua, Traffic Management Manager for Connectus. “The piling phase of the works ended in June and since then the crews have been working hard to establish the permanent site. We are now at a stage where we have 75% of the site in its final layout, with approximately the first 50m of the main trench excavated to a depth of 12m. Throughout the project, and over the last five months especially, the continuing assistance and flexibility of CSP has made my job that much easier with the amount of site rearrangements we’ve had to do, to get to this point.”
“We understand that because of the nature of the work zone Kava and his team need barriers delivered and picked up at short notice,” explains David Russell, National Hire Manager for CSP “We have also been doing out of hours deliveries and pick-ups because of the traffic situation in the city during the day.” “We appreciate the extra effort CSP puts in to help out,” adds Kava. “It certainly helps that they have the ability to be flexible.” |
Once complete, the CRL will transform a one-way dead-end rail system at Britomart into a two-way through system that will be able to carry 30,000 people per hour.
To view time lapse video of CRL Albert Street construction, click here.
To view progress in the Albert Street trenches, click here.