The first milestone has been reached for the $3.4 billion City Rail Link - completion of a new 500m stormwater pipe deep under the central city.
The 2m diameter stormwater pipe replaced an old pipe running up Albert St in the path of the underground tunnels and a new station between Victoria and Wellesley Sts.
A tunnel boring machine, named Valerie after Olympic shot putter Dame Valerie Adams, has been excavating and installing the new pipe east of Albert St since November last year.
Now that the replacement has been completed, the shafts that received the tunnel boring machines are being sealed and backfilled.
This will allow the hoardings and construction sites to be removed from Swanson and Wellesley Streets. The Swanson Street shaft has been completed and reinstated.