Tunnel dig diverts traffic through park

Victoria St and Franklin Rd now loop into Victoria Park. Photo / Natalie Slade

Traffic will be looped through part of central Auckland's Victoria Park from today as contractors get closer to digging a 440m motorway tunnel under the existing flyover.

Transport Agency contractors closed the busy intersection of Victoria St West and Franklin Rd overnight to prepare layouts for temporary loops in both roads, to allow the northbound tunnel to be dug through the park as the main part of a $406 million project.

The intersection will also be closed overnight tonight for associated works.

From today, drivers will use a sealed diversion of Victoria St into the southern edge of the park.

The bottom end of Franklin Rd has been looped into Union St.

That is to enable the walls and top of the future tunnel to be built in the existing road alignments, before the earth below is and excavated.

The tunnel is to be dug in five sections.

A similar operation is planned at its northern end, where traffic has been diverted for several weeks near the intersection of Beaumont St and Fanshawe St.

Tunnel walls are already being built beneath Victoria Park, ready for the ground in between to be scooped out before a cover is placed on top.

Adding to complications at the southern end is a plan to move the historic Birdcage Tavern temporarily out of the way of the tunnel builders.

This operation, which will be undertaken on a set of four skids in late August or September, will move the hotel about 40m up Franklin Rd.

Transport Agency northern highways manager Tommy Parker said the Victoria St and Franklin Rd diversions would be in place for about six months, and he appealed for motorists and pedestrians to take extra care in the vicinity.

"It is going to be the scene of intensive activity over the next few months as critical underground services are relocated, the tunnel construction ramps up and the Birdcage is strengthened ready for its temporary move up Franklin Rd."