Link Alliance, a consortium led by Vinci Construction, has won a €970m design-construction contract for the €2.5bn (£2.24bn) City Rail Link (CRL) Project in Auckland, New Zealand.
The Link Alliance comprises Vinci Construction Grands Projets, Downer NZ, Soletanche Bachy International NZ, WSP Opus (NZ), AECOM New Zealand and Tonkin+Taylor. Vinci Construction is the main contractor for the project.
The contract, which is for the Package 3 of the Auckland City Rail Link project, involves the design and construction of 3.45km of extension of a train line, including 3.2km of the tunnel to link the existing Britomart station to the existing Mount Eden station.
Additionally, Link Alliance will build three new stations, of which two are underground.
The two new underground stations are intended to serve the Aotea Station near Aotea Square and Karangahape Station near Karangahape Road.
The Project Alliance Agreement also allows the three construction companies and three design companies to commence work on modernising and expanding Mt Eden station.
Commenting on the project, Auckland Mayor Phil Goff said: “It will double the capacity of our rail network, reduce travel times into and through the central city, and help take cars off the roads, as well as driving investment in our region.
“The signing of this agreement will help ensure the delivery of the world-class transport system our city needs.”
The Alliance contract allows the designer-constructor consortium and the client, City Rail Link, to create a single team in order to deliver the project in 2024.
Intended to double rail capacity of the rail network, the CRL will transform the downtown Britomart Transport Centre into a two-way through-station that better connects the Auckland rail network.
City Rail Link chief executive Dr Sean Sweeney said: “Aucklanders can be confident that a project transforming the way they travel, live and work will be delivered to a high standard, on time in 2024, and on budget, leaving behind an outstanding legacy for the city.”