Auckland Light Rail marks start of physical works

A 40m-deep bore hole in Sandringham is the first of several to be drilled so core samples can be analysed to help decide the most technically viable route for the rail system.

“The first pieces of a very complex infrastructure jigsaw are being put in place, the physical start to a challenging and exciting project that is going to bring so many positive changes to Aucklanders and our city,” said ALR chief executive Tommy Parker.

During the next six months, ALR will sink 30 holes between 10-80m deep along sections of light rail’s indicative 24km-long route, half of which will be tunnelled.   

ALR will also draw on underground information already gathered by two other big infrastructure projects – the City Rail Link and the Central Interceptor, Auckland Council’s underground wastewater pipeline.

Information from the samples will help ALR create a 3D picture of below ground conditions along the project’s proposed corridor.

Funding of NZ$16m (US$9.9m) was approved last year to allow Arup and Aurecon – the two companies in ALR’s planning and design alliance – to jump-start their work. The ground investigation costs are included in a further NZ$48.45m (US$30m) approved for the alliance to undertake work necessary to progress the project for construction.

Light rail will connect the communities of Sandringham, Mt Roskill, Onehunga and Mangere with the airport to the south and the CBD and universities to the north.