Auckland's $4.4 billion City Rail Link is one step closer, with a tunnel boring machine set to start work at the project's Mt Eden site.
The Mt Eden train station site from the air. Photo: Supplied / City Rail Link
Final checks are underway before the machine starts excavating the first of two rail tunnels in mid-May.
Transport Minister Michael Wood said the launch was a milestone in the country's largest ever transport infrastructure project.
Auckland Mayor Phil Goff welcomed the launch of the machine.
Transport Minister Michael Wood and Auckland Mayor Phil Goff inside the tunnel boring machine's control room. Photo: supplied
He said the completion of the City Rail Link would transform rail travel in Tāmaki Makaurau and carry up to 54,000 people an hour.
This would move the equivalent capacity of three Auckland Harbour Bridges or 16 extra traffic lanes into and through the city at peak times, Goff said.
The first 50m of tunnel at Mt Eden was mined earlier to make room for the front sections of the 130m long machine.
It will excavate 1.6km under the Central Motorway Junction and Karangahape Rd to connect with the City Rail Link tunnels already built from the Britomart Station.
The machine will remove spoil by conveyor belt from the tunnel and line tunnel walls with concrete segments.
The first tunnel is expected to be completed by the end of the year.