Transport Minister, Michael Wood has welcomed progress on Auckland’s two most transformational transport projects in a generation – Auckland Light Rail and the Additional Waitematā Harbour Connections – with preferred bidders named for each project.
Auckland Light Rail and Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency today confirmed the preferred bidders – an alliance of four companies for the Waitematā Harbour Connections project: WSP, Beca, SYSTRA and Cox Architecture; and two companies in alliance for the next phase of Auckland Light Rail: Aurecon and Arup – to move each project to their next phase, designing the best way to construct Auckland Light Rail and evaluating the preferred transport modes for further development for Waitematā Harbour Connections.
“The Government is upgrading New Zealand’s transport infrastructure to future proof the system for future generations to come, securing New Zealand’s economy and supporting our largest city to thrive,” Minister Wood said.
“Together the projects will have far-reaching benefits city-wide, transforming the way people can get around by giving them more travel choices.”
With Auckland’s population projected to rise to two million by the early 2030’s, the city needs well-planned and connected infrastructure, the Minister said.
“We’re not going to repeat the previous mistakes of ad hoc planning and be left scrambling to build infrastructure when it’s too late – these projects will make sure Auckland is able to flourish as it grows.
“These are big jobs that will take time to construct. By working together Waka Kotahi and Auckland Light Rail have ensured industry professionals who design mega-projects are able to best plan for the pipeline of infrastructure work across Aotearoa,” Mr Wood said.
He said both alliances include overseas companies with a wealth of experience helping deliver large-scale projects and that is a measure of the significance of two crucial programmes of work to modernise and expand Auckland’s rapid transit system to allow the city to grow.
“I look forward to seeing these projects continue to be progressed by the Alliance for the benefit of all Aucklanders, and look forward to celebrating more milestones over the coming months,” he said.