Waka Kotahi and Auckland Light Rail have announced the preferred business alliances to take the next steps for Auckland’s major infrastructure projects.
The alliances will plan and design the next phases of the city’s Waitematā harbor connections and Auckland Light Rail projects that are in various stages of development, according to a joint statement by Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency and Auckland Light Rail on Wednesday morning.
Single vehicle, Transportation in Auckland and Council of Auckland have designated an alliance of four companies as the preferred bidder for the Waitematā Harbor Connections project. Those companies are: WSP, Beca, SYSTRA and Cox Architecture.
The two companies in the alliance that have been named as preferred bidders for the next phase of Auckland Light Rail are Aurecon and Arup.
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“Auckland Light Rail will run for 15 miles – half of which is underground – connecting people to work and study at job centers in the city and at Auckland Airport,” said Tommy Parker, Auckland Light Rail project director.
“Light rail will be frequent, faster, safer and more reliable, cutting travel times between the central city and most destinations on the route in half.
Delivered
Auckland Light Rail will be 24 kilometers long.
“The ALR alliance will work on a final light rail route and proposed locations of up to 18 stations.
“It will also develop the final Corridor Business Case of light rail, building on the Indicative Business Case developed by the Auckland Light Rail Establishment Unit, as well as looking at how the system will be built and preparing the necessary permits for construction.”
ALR
An overpass of proposed tunnelled light rail project for Auckland announced on January 28, 2022.
Brett Gliddon, general manager of transportation services at Waka Kotahi, said Waitematā Harbor Connections would explore connections across all modes to shape the future of the city, the region and beyond in partnership with mana whenua.
The project would help tackle climate change problems by providing more transport choices and making Auckland’s transport system more resilient and reliable, he said.
“By the middle of next year, the Waitematā Harbor Connections team plans to make a recommendation for a package of transportation improvements as part of a Waitematā Harbor Connections Indicative Business Case.
stuff
An artist’s impression of a neighborhood around the proposed underground light rail station in Sandringham, Auckland.
“This includes all modes of transport, including light rail, buses, walking and cycling connections, vehicles and freight, along with determining the future use of the Auckland Harbor Bridge.
“These long-term solutions require significant investment and involve complex large-scale structures, which are expected to take more than 15 years of design and construction work.”
The announcement of the preferred bidders comes after a “competitive and independent tender process involving New Zealand and international companies,” the statement said.
Auckland Light Rail/Delivered
An artistic impression of light rail in Auckland.
Transport Minister Michael Wood said the two projects will take time to build.
“By working together, Waka Kotahi and Auckland Light Rail have ensured that industry professionals designing mega projects can best plan for the pipeline of infrastructure work in Aotearoa,” Wood said.
“Internationally, the infrastructure sector is a highly competitive environment. Both alliances include overseas companies with a wealth of experience helping to realize large-scale projects and that is a measure of the importance of two critical work programs to modernize and expand Auckland’s rapid transit system so the city can grow.”
Auckland Light Rail has also awarded a contract to Atkins NZ (SNC-Lavalin) to work with Aurecon and Arup to develop the way light rail is operated and maintained when open.
Law firms Buddle Findlay and Simpson Grierson have been contracted to continue legal work for Auckland Light Rail.