The Mt Victoria Tunnel is a vital part of the Wellington region's transport network. The NZ Transport Agency upgraded the Mt Victoria Tunnel to extend its working life.
The Mt Victoria Tunnel opened in 1931, connecting Hataitai and the eastern suburbs with the inner city suburbs of Wellington. It is 623 metres long and has two lanes, one in each direction. More than 45,000 cars per day travel through the tunnel and share the space with pedestrians and cyclists who use the tunnel on an elevated walkway along the northern wall.
The tunnel's original systems and components were appropriate when they were installed. However, more modern equipment, will improve the operation, environment and safety in the tunnel.
Stage 1 of the upgrade was completed in 2012 which included the demolition of the ceiling plenum.
The Stage 2 upgrade of the tunnel refurbishment and safety improvement works builds on work completed around 2 years ago when the concrete ceiling was removed:
Following the completion of the Stage 2 Upgrade on 24 June 2016, Mt Victoria Tunnel is now open 24 hours every day, apart from scheduled maintenance closures. The tunnel, which was carved by hand through rock nearly 85 years ago in 1930 and 1931, has been transformed to include 21st Century tunnel safety technologies. A huge amount of mechanical, electrical and electronic communications engineering has been undertaken though the most obvious to tunnel users is the rebroadcast of 18 FM frequencies so people can continue listening to their favourite radio stations. The tunnel’s communications system includes thermal imaging cameras that ‘see’ through sunstrike at the entrances and through smoke if there is an accident inside, sending their images to the Wellington Transport Operations Centre (WTOC).
In an emergency, electronically-controlled cats’ eyes on the road are programmed to pulse in the direction that people should go to exit the tunnel – a world-first use of this system. The tunnel is also equipped with an efficient LED lighting system which responds to outside light levels at the portals and gradually dims toward the centre as drivers’ eyes adjust – the first New Zealand state highway tunnel to use LED lighting. This not only optimises the lighting levels in the tunnel but is also energy efficient. Furthermore, we have undertaken seismic strengthening of the tunnel walkway and portal slopes to bring the tunnel up to current standards and upgraded the ambient tunnel conditions through new paint systems and reflective (fire-rated) panels.
The Mt Victoria Tunnel is a vital link in the Wellington region’s transport network. To ensure the tunnel continues to operate effectively the NZ Transport Agency is starting Stage 2 of the upgrade which includes improvements of the:
mechanical ventilation
lighting
pedestrian walkway strengthening
control room refurbishment
portal slope improvement
tunnel management systems
wall panels.
Stage 3 of the upgrade will be coordinated with the Mt Victoria Tunnel Duplication.
It’s appropriate to make these changes now given the tunnel’s age and the advancements made in tunnel engineering since it was built more than 80 years ago.
Mt Victoria Tunnel on State Highway 1 is a vital link in the Wellington region’s transport network and is being upgraded to ensure it continues to operate effectively. It is appropriate to make these changes now given the tunnel’s age and the advancements made in tunnel engineering since it was built more than 80 years ago.
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Stage 1 of the Mt Victoria upgrade involved a $17.5 million upgrade began in May 2011 and completed late 2012. The project included upgrading the fire systems and improving earthquake safety, demolishing the tunnel's current ceiling (plenum), installing a temporary safety platform, and fire sprinklers, and installing a new deluge system.
CloseThe Mt Victoria Tunnel is being upgraded to ensure it continues to work effectively and in line with today's standards.Work includes mechanical, lighting, walkway strengthening, control room refurbishment, portal slope improvements, tunnel management systems, and wall panels. Work will be done overnight to minimise the impact on traffic.
The Mt Victoria Tunnel opened in 1931, connecting Hataitai and the eastern suburbs with the inner city suburbs of Wellington. It is 623 metres long and has two lanes, one in each direction. More than 45,000 cars per day travel through the tunnel and share the space with pedestrians and cyclists who use the tunnel on an elevated walkway along the northern wall.
The tunnel’s original systems and components were appropriate when they were installed. However, more modern equipment, will improve the operation, environment and safety in the tunnel.
Stage 1 of the upgrade was completed in 2012 which included the demolition of the ceiling plenum.
Upgrade 2 has a construction budget of $30 million.
CloseThe Mt Victoria Tunnel needs to be upgraded to bring it in line with today’s standards and to extend its working/functional/operating life.
CloseThis upgrade will extend the tunnel’s operating life and enhance tunnel safety, ensuring this vital link is maintained for Wellington’s transport network.
CloseConstruction is expected late April 2015 to mid-2016.
CloseTo avoid traffic disruption the bulk of the work will be done overnight. This means the tunnel will likely be closed from 9pm until 6am Sundays to Thursdays, but this is still be confirmed.
CloseThere will be occasions when the tunnel isn’t closed due to events being held in the city or for other reasons that might affect traffic flow in to or out of the city. If this happens we might close the tunnel later or not at all.
CloseThe tunnel will be closed Mondays to Thursdays 9.00pm – 6.00am unless notified on our website, local radio or the Dominion Post. Please see the map link on our homepage that shows alternative routes for motorists.
CloseThe impact to daytime traffic is expected to be limited. The speed limit through the Mt Victoria Tunnel will be maintained at current levels. Lighting will be altered, but kept at a sufficient level that would not impact on traffic.
CloseThere will be some noise involved with the work as old equipment needs to be removed and new equipment installed. Every effort is being made to ensure that construction noise is kept to a minimum. This includes doing the noisiest work in the early evening so nearby residents are not overly inconvenienced. The team is also considering other ways to limit the amount of noise that is made.
CloseTraffic will be diverted on to other roads to reconnect with the state highway between 8pm and 6am.
CloseWe’ve done some preliminary work to see how other roads will be affected by the closures and worked with Wellington City Council to see how to best manage this. As a result we will keep a close eye on how traffic flows change and, if necessary, make changes to traffic signals to limit delays or consider other options to improve travel.
CloseOccasionally there will be work on Paterson Street and Ruahine Street relating to services (ie water, power, telecommunications cables), however, the impact will be minimal.
CloseThe NZTA considered closing the tunnel completely but decided this was not the best way to manage the work due to the impact it would have on daytime traffic.
CloseThe work programme has been planned very carefully to avoid this happening however, in the unlikely event the tunnel cannot open at 6am in the morning contingency plans will be put in place and alternate routes will be advertised on roadside signs, on the radio and on the NZTA website.
CloseYes. The tunnel will operate as usual when open and once the work is completed. There will be no public access when the tunnel is closed for overnight work.
Cyclists should follow the general vehicle diversion routes – either via Newtown or around the Bays.
CloseYes, the tunnel remains safe for everyday travel. The NZTA is doing work to bring the tunnel up to today’s standards. While the equipment put in the tunnel was appropriate at the time the tunnel was built, advances mean newer equipment will ensure the tunnel operates at its best now and in the future.
CloseThe project is being carried out by the Memorial Park Alliance of the NZ Transport Agency, Downer, HEB Construction, Tonkin & Taylor and Aecom.
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CloseA project alliance is a commercial agreement between a client, in this case the NZTA, and a consortium of companies to plan and deliver a project. Partners in a project alliance can be involved in planning, design and construction of a project and can come from both the public and private sectors.
CloseAn Alliance was selected for the Mt Victoria Tunnel upgrade because of the benefits it can provide in developing and implementing a project. The Alliance approach allows for faster delivery of a project as different parts of the work can be progressed simultaneously by having the owner, designer, constructor and technical specialists working together as a team. Team members take off their company hats to work as a single organisation and ensure value for money as partners share in the financial risk and reward of the work they collectively carry out.
CloseThe Mt Victoria Tunnel upgrade is not connected to the NZ Memorial Park project.
CloseThe Mt Victoria Tunnel systems upgrade is a maintenance project.
CloseNo, the Mt Victoria Tunnel systems upgrade is a maintenance project and not part of proposed transportation improvements around the Basin Reserve project.
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