Subscribe to RSSVic Tunnel Open In November
Drivers can start using the Auckland’s Victoria Park Tunnel in central Auckland this November. That’s months earlier than planned as the NZ Transport Agency’s $340m project heads towards an early finish.
The opening of two of the three lanes in the 450 metre-long tunnel in November is three months earlier than originally planned.
The entire project, including the widening of State Highway 1 through St Marys Bay and the reconfiguration of the existing Victoria Park viaduct to carry four southbound lanes of traffic, is due to be completed next March, two months ahead of schedule.
NZTA’s State Highways Manager for Auckland, Tommy Parker, says the key to the tunnel’s early opening is the planned closure next month of the Wellington Street on-ramp, which links the central CBD with the northbound lanes of SH1. During the seven month-long closure, a new on-ramp will be built and construction of the southern portal of the tunnel completed.
“There is still much work to be done, including fitting out the tunnel, but the closure will give our project partners the time to bring forward their construction timetable above ground and complete critical works,” he says.
The Wellington Street on-ramp will be closed from 2 May. Mr Parker says that the closure of the same on-ramp for three and a half month last year did not have a significant impact on CBD streets, and motorway traffic flows actually improved.
Transport Minister Steven Joyce says: “This is a project that may in fact never have happened if Labour had cut back on state highway funding as planned. I’m pleased now to be able to deliver this hugely important project even earlier than we had hoped.”
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“Mr Parker says that the closure of the same on-ramp for three and a half month last year did not have a significant impact on CBD streets, and motorway traffic flows actually improved.”
Which means the question needs to be asked, why rebuild and open it again, why not just permanently close it?
I am quite concerned with the constant early opening of motorway projects, it seems to me that more robust tendering processes are needed as I suspect that the construction companies are deliberately adding in time to make it easy for them to get bonuses for finishing early.
@Matt L Last week the Minister announced that the Hobsonville Motorway would be complete six months ahead of schedule. Last year the southbound part of the Newmarket Viaduct opened six months early and the Manukau Harbour crossing also opened early.
So are they rushing to get a bonus or are the timetables being deliberately over compensated so an early finish makes every one incl the Minister look good?
AKT - Yes projects are what I was refering to as well as the SH20 southern link which was also months early.
I think it is a bit of all of the things you mention.
There have been a few projects that have taken all of the planned time to complete, these include Manukau extension, Greenhithe deviation and 4th lane to Greenlane.The weather does play a large part in construction, from memory the past couple of winters haven’t been as wet as they can be, this may have influenced construction time.
Patrick - The Manukau extension was early and the Greenhithe deviation was reported the other day as being 6 months early
Matt, no your talking about the Hobsonville deviation and
the manukau harbour bridge.
The manukau harbour crossing is the duplication of Mangere bridge, yes that was 6 months early, the manukau extension was from Puhinui Rd to SH 1 which was completed on the 5th of January this year.
The Greenhithe extension start in 2003 and was finished in December 2007.
Transport Minister Steven Joyce says: “This is a project that may in fact never have happened if Labour had cut back on state highway funding as planned. I’m pleased now to be able to deliver this hugely important project even earlier than we had hoped.” What bollocks, this project was never under threat at any stage.
@Cam maybe he should have worded it: No motorway project is ever under threat under a National Government.
Major projects finished just before the election? Interesting.
Come on. It’s either early or it’s late.
I prefer early. Would you rather them muck around for another few months to slow things a little?
Would you rather them tender with an unrealistically short time?
I like that it’s early. It’s like being paid early before the holidays.
Vic Park was ‘shovel ready’ as Obama would say. Was programmed to go ahead regardless. Only one of the RONS that is really needed quickly and National had nothing to do with it.
Love this quote though:
“Transport Minister Steven Joyce said he was “particularly pleased” that the sped up project would now be ready in time for the Rugby World Cup in 2011.”
Finished early - yeah right.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/2588980/Builder-of-Victoria-Park-tunnel-project-announced
Luke - the offical finish date was mid 2012, fletchers got a bit carried away announcing they would finish before the RWC.
The weather has been the biggest factor in these projects being finished early! Also other projects striving to keep up with each other, pushing the limits, to ensure future works.
finish before the RWC, just not open by the RWC!
One other factor that has not been mentioned is that major construction projects throughout the recession have had additional machinery and manpower available to them.
Yes Luke, however this was the contractor saying this, NZTA still remained firm the finish date was 2012. Joyce just was going by the contractors words, however my understanding was their programmer had made a mistake. Still way ahead of the original finish date.
Its a public relations exercise to a degree.
The Designer and Consulants for the project will normally tell the employer - say NZTA in this case how long they think it will take to build.
The employer quite rightly adds a bit of reserve on to this so that if unforeseen conditions are found, then there is some leeway and the project can still be completed on time.
What we dont know is what NZTA set out in the tender to Fletchers. For example, NZTA might tell the public that it will be finished in October 2011, whereas the tender documents might say August 2011.
Also, the reason for the precieved early finish is that the client has given a maximum time frame. It is in the contractors best interestes to finish early so he may as well try too.
And finally, it does make NZTA look good if it comes in early as they have managed the project well.