What's happening in our neighbourhood?

Today, the people at the New Zealand Transport Agency shared a really cool video about the Waterview Connection. They have sent a photography drone through the first tunnel so you can see the new motorway taking shape, first at Owairaka, and then at Waterview, after passing all the way through the tunnel!

To find out more about the project, you can visit NZTA's website, where they have specific information about the Waterview Connection.

We have a poster in the library all about Alice, the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) that made the tunnel. She is on her way back to Owairaka, so check out the new poster all about how she was turned around!

Quick facts

Project objective: Complete Western Ring Route

Project duration: 66 months

Length: 4.8km

Tunnel length: 2.4km

Tunnel diameter: 13.1m (twin tunnels)

Maximum depth: 45m

Tunnelling method: Earth Pressure Balance Machine (EPBM) (10th largest ever TBM)

Completion: Early 2017