Waterview Connection
Summary
The Waterview Connection in Auckland consists of a 2.1‑kilometer-long (1.3 mi) twin-bore highway tunnel, a cut-and-cover tunnel, portal works, deep retained cuts, and a motorway-to-motorway interchange consisting of four viaducts. The tunnel provides three lanes of traffic in each direction and was driven through weak sedimentary rock using a 14.1‑meter-diameter (46.3 ft) earth pressure balance tunnel boring machine (TBM).
- 2.1-kilometer-long (1.3 mi) twin-bore tunnels
- Cut-and-cover tunnels
Scope of Work
Delve Underground provided tunnel consulting services to NZTA during preparation of the minimum requirements for the tenders, and then served as NZTA “embeds” on the two tender teams competing for the project. The Well-Connected consortium was the successful tenderer and entered into an alliance with NZTA to deliver the project.
During the detailed design phase, Delve Underground provided peer review services to the alliance for the design of all tunnel structures as required for building consent, including the tunnel segmental lining, tunnel invert structures, cross passages constructed by the sequential excavation method (SEM), as well as all retaining wall structures and cut-and-cover tunnels.
Challenges & Innovations
This $1.4 billion project was delivered on time and on budget. At the time of construction, this was the tenth largest TBM ever used to construct a tunnel. The project reduced travel time from the Auckland Central Business District (CBD) to the Auckland Airport by 20 minutes.
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2017 Best Project Civil Contractors New Zealand
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2018 International Road Federation Global Achievement Awards – Design -
2019 International Architectural Award Los Angeles Business Council
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2019 Gold Award New Zealand Association for Consulting and Engineering Professionals