Auckland Rail Link open to public

PEOPLE are being invited next month for the first public tour inside New Zealand’s largest infrastructure project, Auckland’s $4.4 billion City Rail Link.

The GovernmentAuckland Council joint business has just announced plans for the rare glimpse inside the project on Sunday, November 17.

It will offer free tickets to the first 10,000 people who register.

‘‘Aucklanders will have the opportunity next month to walk a section of the 3.45kmlong tunnels,’’ CRL said, adding that tours would start at the Britomart end, in lower Queen St.

Tickets will be available from Wednesday, November 6.

‘‘This will be a rare opportunity for people to enjoy a brief snapshot of New Zealand’s largest infrastructure project being built right under the city. We have a lot to celebrate,’’ CRL chief executive Dr Sean Sweeney said.

‘‘It’s a great chance for us to say, ‘thank you’ to people for the support they are giving the project, and for us to show off some of the outstanding engineering behind a project that will reshape the way Aucklanders travel,’’ he said.

People will be able to walk under lower Queen St, the $1 billion almostcompleted 40level Commercial Bay development and into lower Albert St, a return distance of 600m that will take about 30 minutes, a statement said.

Space in the tunnels is confined. Access for those who use wheelchairs or mobility is limited. There will be no access for bikes, prams, pushchairs, scooters and skateboards.

Numbers will be restricted to 10,000 and entry will be only by ticket. Tickets will be free and restricted to six per person.

Walking the tunnels will run between from 8am until last entry at 5pm.

There will be 10 entry sessions during the day. To keep people safe underground, each session will be restricted to 1000 people. — The New Zealand Herald