The entrance to Te Waihorotiu train station which is set to be completed in 2025. Photo: RNZ / Felix Walton
Auckland Council says construction is on track for a major redevelopment in the central city, with Victoria Street expected to reopen by end of 2023.
Construction on Victoria Street has been taking place as part of the Midtown Regeneration Programme, to prepare the area for the completion of the rail system, the City Rail Link.
Work hours have been extended on-site in Victoria Street until the end of December, in order to reopen the area for some traffic movement by the end of 2023.
The project, which recently exposed New Zealand's lack of expertise in delivering large-scale, complex infrastructure projects and the risks which arise from that, has been slated for completion by November 2025, including the construction of stations and supporting rail infrastructure.
Auckland Council city centre programmes head Jenny Larking said the project was expected to come in on budget.
"The work that we're doing is complex," she said.
"We're working very closely with the council group and our partners to coordinate the work, so that we deliver it as efficiently and as quickly as possible, while reducing our impacts on businesses and residents in the area."
She said Victoria Street would be back open for public access by the end of the year.
"We're really excited that we are on track to achieve one of our key milestones by the end of this year, which is to open up Victoria Street for local access and for use, since it's been closed by CRL construction a couple of years ago," Larking said.
"By the end of 2024, you'll see Victoria Street, from Queen Street all the way up to Albert Street, in a completed state."
Work to expand the city centre's critical wastewater infrastructure was also expected to begin early next year.
