A leader has been appointed for the Auckland light rail project, that will link the city centre to the airport.
An artists' visualisation for Auckland Transport of light rail on Queen Street. Photo: Supplied / Auckland Transport
The NZ Transport Agency today announced formerly UK-based programme director Carl Devlin will lead the project.
NZTA Chairman Michael Stiassny said their new hire brings extensive infrastructure expertise, and the Auckland project would be world-class.
Mr Devlin has led major infrastructure projects in the United Kingdom, including a more than £5 billion sub-surface railway upgrade for Transport for London.
He has held senior leadership roles with Horizon Nuclear Power, Laing O'Rourke construction, Transport for London, BAA airports operators, and Bechtel Infrastructure construction engineers.
The $1.8 billion light rail project will link the city centre, Māngere, Auckland Airport and Auckland's northwest suburbs.
It was announced in April as part of a nearly $30 billion injection into Auckland transport, called the Auckland Transport Alignment Project, which is New Zealand's biggest ever civil construction programme.
The light rail is hoped to be running by 2028, and Mr Stiassny said the Transport Agency looked forward to working with Mr Devlin throughout the next 10 years.
He will begin work in Auckland in February.