Firth were awarded an initial contract of approximately 2,000m3 earlier in the year and have also recently gained the largest portion of the contract to supply the main tunnel structure concrete - in excess of 30,000m3. The pressure is on the VPT alliance team members to deliver the project with an ambitious target of completion for the start of the RWC2011.

Fast facts
• Estimated cost including land purchases around $400 million
• 460 metre long cut and cover tunnel beneath Victoria Park
• Length of project 2.2km
• Retaining existing use of the viaduct over Victoria Park providing
four lanes for south bound traffic
• Dedicated bus lanes
• Pedestrian/cyclist footbridge will be built over the motorway
linking St Mary's Bay to Westhaven
• New concrete median and edge barriers
• Transport noise wall in St Marys Bay area and solid noise wall in
Freemans Bay area

Strategic and safe

Firth's improved Hamer Street plant now resides 300m north of the old site - just a few hundred metres from the VPT workzone.

The revamped site has been a key contributor in securing this very large contract for Firth. The new plant sits on nearly twice as much land as the old plant, which meant Firth was able to redesign the plant to improve traffic flow, safety and efficiency. Firth is the only concrete company with the ability to batch concrete in the Auckland CBD, making the relocation and redesign of Hamer Street essential for Firth to be able to offer customers prompt, reliable concrete supply in the heart of Auckland City.