YOUR NEW MIDTOWN STATION IS COMING
Artist impression of Wellesley Street entrance to Aotea Station.
The heart of Tāmaki Makaurau is being transformed City Rail Link will provide Auckland with the modern rail network that people expect of the world’s best cities. It will unlock Auckland’s public transport network and improve travel choice and journey times. Together with Auckland Council-led regeneration, the City Rail Link will ensure improved access, enhanced public spaces, cleaner air and a strong Māori identity to make our city centre a welcoming and vibrant destination - one that is uniquely Tāmaki Makaurau. Over the next 30 years, a million more people will call Auckland home, and we’re working hard to ensure that we plan a city with people at its heart – creating a greener, safer, and better-connected city centre for everyone.
Aotea Station in midtown Aotea Station, which will run underneath Albert Street, is set to become the busiest transport centre in New Zealand. With entrances on both Wellesley and Victoria Streets, and room for nine-car electric trains, Aotea Station will revitalise the midtown precinct and provide
Follow the progress at progressakl.co.nz
Follow the progress at progressakl.co.nz
people with better access to education and the arts precinct, as well as new housing and employment opportunities. The new, state of the art, underground station will be 15-metres-deep, 300-metres-long and will connect with Britomart Station, a new station under Karangahape Road, and a redeveloped Mt Eden Station with 3.45km of new underground track. With a train at least every ten minutes at peak times, you can just turn up and go. No more timetables! Aotea Station will also be future-proofed for a potential future connection to the North Shore, and has been designed to accommodate a future 41,000sqm tower development being built over the top of its Wellesley Street entrance. The cultural narratives in Aotea Station’s design and immediate surrounds have been gifted by Mana Whenua. At its Wellesley Street entrance, hundreds of rods representing the stems of harakeke (flax) will be suspended from the ceiling to create a rippled lighting effect that mimics water. Skylights representing the seven stars of the Matariki constellation - which marks the start of the Māori new year - will light the underground concourse and platforms.
It’s a big job but we’re making good progress As of May 2021 we have: • Compleled over 80% of bored piles • Installed over 50% of the station’s walls • Safely deconstructed and stored the heritage Bluestone Wall • Started underground construction and the station’s roof
D-wall at Aotea Station
Deconstruction of the Bluestone wall
The next big phase of construction While the revitalised midtown district is being built, there will be some changes to street layouts. In mid-2021 the Wellesley Street West intersection will reopen to traffic and the Victoria Street West intersection with Albert Street will close to traffic. It is expected to reopen in 2023. Work at Victoria Street West includes utility relocations and upgrades, Aotea Station underground and entrance construction, and streetscape improvements.
Many buses will return to Wellesley Street West with dedicated 24/7 bus lanes in each direction. A permanent upgrade of the streetscape is planned to be completed in 2023. Both intersections will always remain open to people on foot, and the area remains open for business and leisure. We look forward to continuing to welcome you to the city centre with an exciting range of events, activations and public art planned in the area.
What the changes mean for you Visit AT.govt.nz/betterway to find a better way into and around the city’s centre.
Private vehicles • If you drive a private vehicle into the city centre, there will be delays to your journey. • Consider using public transport to get to and from the city centre. Walking or biking could also be a faster option. People
on foot
• We will install temporary footpaths around the closed intersection so that you can still walk through it. • To maintain accessibility for people with mobility aids, prams or scooters, we will ensure temporary footpaths are step free. • Signage will help you find your way around the intersection.
Buses
• If you catch a bus that currently passes through the Victoria Street intersection, your route will change. • Most bus routes that travel through the city centre will move to Wellesley Street, ahead of the Victoria Street intersection closure. Visit AT.govt.nz/betterway to find out more about changes to your bus route.
Service providers
• You will still be able to drive into the city centre to provide your services. • Multiple loading zones will be installed around the site for you to use. • See the map above for the loading zone locations.
How to get around from mid-2021 WY ND
KIN
GST ON
TW
EST
Cen tre Auckland Council
Motorway access
ICE ERV
TW
EST
STR E
ET S
Vehicle access to Crowne Plaza Hotel maintained
ERT
REE T
REE
Local access only
DAR BY STR E
ET
ET
SkyCity Theatre
LAN E
AA
REE T
FED ERA L ST
SkyCity Grand Hotel
A ST
TT S TRE
REE
TOR I
Atri um Ellio on tt ELL IO
Y ST
VIC
ALB
SLE
EST
EST
ALB ERT ST
STR EET SON
SkyCity Casino
HOB
Crowne Plaza Hotel Atrium carpark
This section of Wellesley Street is one way east bound for cars. Two way for buses
Smi th
Wellesley Centre
REE T N ST
WE LLE SLE Y
QUE E
AL
R YO MA
The Civic
Bled i
E
IV DR
sloe
Hou s
e
&C buil aughe ding y’s
STR EE TE AS T
VIN
CE
NT
ST RE ET
Access to Bledisloe House & Civic carpark
General traffic
ELD
EFI
K WA
Legend E STR
Grand Millennium Auckland
ET
Bus and general traffic Buses only
Pedestrian access maintained
YS
Loading zones
ET
IVE
DR
AV EN
Businesses are still open
Road closure
UE
AL
R YO MA
Auckland Town Hall
GR E
EN
STR E
Businesses in the area will stay open while construction is underway and we encourage you to support local wherever possible. QUE
LLE
TW
ET W
Sky Tower
SkyCity carpark
WE
REE
STR E
LN
A ST
HAM
HAM
TOR I
DUR
DUR
VIC
ET
ET
ALB ERT ST
Use Nelson Street for northbound travel
STR E
STR E
REE T
Motorway access via Hobson Street and Nelson Street
HAM
Auckland District Court
M
E
RIV
LD
RA AYO
This map is indicative only. Pedestrian access will change as construction progresses.
What’s coming up 2021 • Reopen Wellesley Street to through traffic • Close Victoria Street and Albert Street intersection to traffic • Begin above-ground construction of the Wellesley Street station entrance building • Tunnel boring machine breaks through into Mayoral Drive, completing first tunnel
Visit us
2022
From mid-2021 visit our public info-hub, Te Pūkaki, located on Victoria Street near the intersection with Elliott Street. Meet our staff, and learn more about the City Rail Link and construction progress of Aotea Station.
• Tunnel boring machine breaks through into Mayoral Drive completing second tunnel
• Victoria Street station entrances construction begins
2023
Did you know?
• Station structure complete and installation of rail track and systems begins
307,000 tonnes
of spoil will be removed to make way for the station.
That’s
• Above-ground streetscape and urban realm works begin
2,456
blue whales!
• Victoria Street and Albert Street intersection re-opens to traffic • Above-ground streetscape improvements continue, including upgrades to facilitate a Wellesley Street bus corridor and a future Victoria Street linear park.
2024
Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM)
Aotea Station completed
In December 2021, the Dame Whina Cooper TBM will ‘breakthrough’ at Mayoral Drive, completing the first of her two tunnels between Mt Eden Station and Aotea Station (via Karangahape Station) for the City Rail Link project.
15 metres
Aotea Station will be underground. That’s deeper than the average length of an Auckland Transport bus.
Need more information? If you have any questions or concerns about the Aotea Station works, sign up to Aotea Station’s newsletter or contact the Link Alliance team by:
WELCOME
0800 CRL TALK (275 8255), option 3 You'll be able to catch the train from Midtown in
late 2024
aotea@linkalliance.co.nz CityRailLink.co.nz/cbd-wellesley-street- intersection-closure For more information about travelling into the city centre visit AT.govt.nz/betterway