An ambitious plan to build a 3km long, US$340.1M rail tunnel under Auckland’s central business district could get the green light after a 18-month study found the line was technically and financial feasible.
The investigation was carried out for Auckland City Council, which will recommend to Auckland Regional Council that the project should be included in a regional transport plan.
The tunnel would extend the rail network from Britomart and connect with the Western Line near Mount Eden Station to create the possibility of an inner-city loop.
The tunnel’s preferred route starts from Britomart via Albert Street, Mayoral Drive, Vincent Street, Pitt Street and under the central motorway junction to Exmouth Street and the Western Line. This would conveniently allow the construction of a rail tunnel under Waitemata Harbour that could, if constructed, connect the central business district with the North Shore. The harbour tunnel crossing has already been studied and found to be feasible.