Alice the giant boring machine has completed the second of two long motorway tunnels.
The machine broke into a trench at Owairaka's Alan Wood Reserve at 11.50am to cheers from gathered guests.
Transport Minister Simon Bridges says today's successful breakthrough by Alice, the tunnel boring machine working on Auckland's Waterview Connection project, is a significant milestone.
The giant machine completed the excavation of the second of the project's twin 3-lane tunnels, marking a major step towards completing one of the Government's Roads of National Significance.
"This breakthrough means we are well on our way to completing the Western Ring Route, which will create a 48 kilometre alternative route around Auckland and reduce dependence on State Highway 1. This is crucial in dealing to congestion in our largest city."
The Government has made the Western Ring Route one of its seven Roads of National Significance because of the serious contribution it will make to promoting regional and national growth.
"We've already seen the first of the Auckland Roads of National Significance completed with the Victoria Park Tunnel, today we've hit another milestone, and real progress is being made on the Puhoi to Wellsford section of State Highway 1 as well," Mr Bridges says.
The Government plans to open the tunnels and the adjacent Great North Road Interchange in early 2017.
"Waterview is more than just a huge infrastructure project. It has earned international acclaim for the skill and innovation contractors have brought to its design and construction," Mr Bridges says.
