Tunnel boring day out

07/12/2020

It was a successful Boring Day Out for the City Rail Link (CRL) and the Link Alliance on Sunday 6 December.

The Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) named Dame Whina Cooper was unveiled on Friday and thousands of people turned out to the Mt Eden construction site to see the impressive piece of machinery up close. Visitors were also treated to a sneak peek of the construction door that leads to the twin rail tunnels that will run under central Auckland.

“It’s a tremendous milestone for the CRL project to unveil our TBM, and to have this machine named after such an inspiring New Zealander as Dame Whina Cooper is both humbling and a great honour for the project.” says John Burden – EGM Infrastructure Projects.

The Link Alliance will complete the tunnels and stations and install the systems needed to operate the new line safely. Of the $4.4 billion project cost, this will be the largest portion. Tunnel excavation work will begin in April 2021.

The reason for the name Dame Whina Cooper? There’s a long tradition for TBM’s to be named after influential woman to honour St Barbara, the patron saint of miners. New Zealanders voted for CRL’s TBM to be named in honour of Māori rights champion, Dame Whina Cooper.

Dame Whina’s daughter, Hinerangi Puru Cooper, led official celebrations to unveil and bless the TBM.

More information about the CRL project is available at www.cityraillink.co.nz