The New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) will open the Victoria Park Tunnel in central Auckland in November this year, three months ahead of the schedule.
The NZD$340 million ($280.7million) tunnel project involves the construction of a 450m long cut and cover tunnel adjacent to the existing viaduct in Victoria Park and motorway widening through St Marys Bay.
The tunnel structure will reduce traffic congestion on the central motorway network between the Auckland Harbour Bridge and Newmarket upon completion.NZTA said the tunnel’s fire lining is 80% complete and traffic barriers are being built, while the electrical and mechanical services including lights, extraction fans and communication and fire protection system are being installed below the ground.
The tunnel will open to two lanes of traffic in early November, and all three northbound lanes in the tunnel and the four southbound lanes over the Victoria park flyover would be open by the middle of January next year.The project is being delivered by an alliance consisting of the agency along with Fletcher Construction, Beca, Parsons Brinckerhoff and Higgins.