Auckland's Britomart starting to take shape

By BERNARD ORSMAN

Auckland's new $211 million underground railway station at Britomart is fast taking shape in time for opening in July next year.

Hidden from public view, a giant hole the length of two rugby fields has been excavated and is being enclosed in concrete to create a state-of-the-art railway station.

At the same time, about 100 workers are refurbishing the old Chief Post Office, which will be the grand entrance to the Britomart station in Queen Elizabeth Square.

The post office is still sealed off while deadly white asbestos, found inside the building in May, is removed.

About 200,000 cubic metres of soil was excavated to a depth of 12 metres - the height of a two-storey building - while giant curved beams were poured across supporting pillars.

Eventually the concrete shell will be draped in woven stainless steel mess to create a glistening station that builds on Auckland's botanical and geological features.

The underground station and the Post Office will be joined by a giant glass canopy and drenched in natural light. At the back of the Post Office, escalators and stairs will take commuters down one level to the train station, with a curved waterfall on either side.

The train station has four commuter tracks and one intercity track. It will be the only underground diesel station in the world, with huge extractor fans to remove smoky fumes.

Four of 11 giant volcanic cones have been installed along the length of the station to provide natural light. They rise above ground level down a new walkway, known as Ta Huhu St, which runs from the back of the Post Office towards Britomart Place.

The Auckland City Council is currently considering options about what to do with 20 historic buildings in various states of disrepair it owns. They ring the 3.5 hectare Britomart site, with enough spare land for six development sites.

The old buildings, valued at about $25 million, and development sites cover about 84,000sq m - more than double the size of St Lukes shopping centre - with extra space for about 710 carparks.