Boring Alice and Uplifting Dennis make connection

The huge gantry was painted yellow in honour of Dennis, a workmate who died of cancer last year.

The construction of the motorway interchange at the northern end of Auckland's new Waterview connection has moved a step closer to completion.

Four new interchange ramps will join the Northwestern and Southwestern Motorways.

And a 98m long, 140 tonne gantry is now being used in the huge construction work.

Tommy Parker, NZ Transport Agency regional highway manager, said the gantry had been named Dennis in honour of a workmate who died last year from cancer.

The gantry was painted yellow to promote the work of the Cancer Society, Mr Parker said.

The connection, which includes construction of two tunnels each with three motorway lanes beneath Avondale and Waterview, is due to open in early 2017.

The gantry is working at the opposite end of the tunnels, being dug by Alice the tunnel boring machine.