Daldy and Gaunt Street update

Our progress on Daldy Street is usually hidden to our neighbours and the travelling public by fencing, only those with a birds eye view are able to see the site taking shape. To start this update we’re sharing two birds eye views with you, so that you too can see how much has been completed in the past two months.

The first photo shows the north end of Daldy Street on 1 February, 2019. On the left hand side you can see the excavation for the large rain garden which will separate the new boardwalk and road way. In the centre of the photo, near the orange excavator is the foundation for the tram tracks and, to the right of those, the skeleton of the new garden beds that are starting to be framed with cobblestone pavers.

In contrast the second photo shows the same area but over six weeks later on 16 April, 2019. The rain garden, which now is a temporary home to two native pohutukawa trees, is nearing completion with the road base to the right of it complete and the new boardwalk, to the left, is under construction. The new tracks for the Auckland Dockline Tram have been installed with paving for the cobblestones underway. The garden beds next to the temporary footpath are largely the same as they were in February as the team have focussed their efforts elsewhere.

Image one (above): The northern end of the Daldy Street worksite in February 2019 — ***Image one (above):*** The northern end of the Daldy Street worksite in February 2019

Image two (above): The same end of the Daldy Street worksite, six weeks later in April 2019 — ***Image two (above):*** The same end of the Daldy Street worksite, six weeks later in April 2019

Safer with speedbumps

Safety for pedestrians, road users and our staff has been a big focus for the management team recently. Our worksite has brought pedestrians and vehicles closer together, so to make sure we all make it home unharmed every day we will soon install temporary speedbumps on Gaunt Street.

These speedbumps will work alongside the barriers already in place, to slow down traffic reducing the risks for drivers and pedestrians alike.

What have we done?
March and early April 2019

Continued laying pavers for the new footpath area near the Daldy Street pump station. This pump station also functions as public toilets which will service the future Wynyard Common. We also began laying the cobblestones which surround the tram tracks.
Completed installing the tracks for the Auckland Dockline Tram on Daldy Street between Pakenham Street West and Gaunt Street.
Continued to build the new garden beds and rain gardens which will line Daldy Street, between Fanshawe Street and Gaunt Street.
Installed sections of new services for the Daldy Street area, including ground embedded lighting and new storm water lines.
Changed the pedestrian access routes on Daldy Street, between Fanshawe Street and Gaunt Street. This allowed the team to remove the old concrete footpath and to prepare the area for the new footpath.
Prepared Daldy Street, between Fanshawe Street and Gaunt Street for the new road base.
Continued building the new rain garden on Gaunt Street, between Wilsons Parking and the marine businesses.
Started preparing the base course* for the future boardwalk on the east side of Daldy Street.
*Base course is the material which a road or footpath surface is laid on top of. It’s usually made from aggregate to help surface water drain.

Image 3 (above): Our paving team lay cobblestones for the new road surface on Daldy Street, near Pakenham Street West — ***Image 3 (above):*** *Our paving team lay cobblestones for the new road surface on Daldy Street, near Pakenham Street West*

What’s planned for the rest of April and early May?

Reopen staff vehicle access to the Air New Zealand carpark entrance on Daldy Street.
Open the new section of footpath on Daldy Street, between the Air New Zealand staff entrance and Gaunt Street.
Continue to build the rain gardens and garden beds along Daldy Street. These are being built successively, as each section of road progresses.
Continue to build the new road base and surface on Daldy Street, between Fanshawe Street and Gaunt Street.
Continue to build the boardwalk on Daldy Street, between Pakenham
Continue to build the new rain garden on Gaunt Street, outside Wilsons Parking.
Please know that the car park will remain open at all times while this work is underway and vehicle access will be maintained.
Relocate two existing trees on Gaunt Street. These will be stored on Daldy Street until they are replanted as part of the works.
Finish paving the footpath at the Daldy Street and Pakenham Street intersection, around the pump station.

Image 4 (above): Underground services are intricate and can sometimes resemble a spaghetti junction. Our teams take significant care and time to ensure they are maintained at all times. — ***Image 4 (above):*** *Underground services are intricate and can sometimes resemble a spaghetti junction. Our teams take significant care and time to ensure they are maintained at all times.*

Upcoming Gaunt Street works

Our work on Daldy Street is progressing well and we have now turned our planning focus towards the upcoming Gaunt Street works. In mid-July we expect to reduce Gaunt Street, east of the Daldy Street intersection to Beaumont Street, to one-way for westbound traffic only.

The essential upgrade of Gaunt Street will be undertaken in stages to reduce the impact on local businesses. Access to carparks will be maintained throughout the work and suggested detours will be clearly marked for visitors.

We will share more information about this work in future updates.

**Meet the team**

***Matt O’Brien, Cadet Engineer***

The team undertaking the Daldy Street and Gaunt Street upgrade has many members who have been in construction for 10, 20 and sometimes 30 years! The knowledge they hold and share with the team is invaluable, especially for our Cadet Engineer, Matt O’Brien.

Matt’s cadetship sees him gain practical engineering experience while undertaking traditional study at the same time. In the five months Matt has been with the Daldy Street and Gaunt Street team he has been in the trenches, making the most of any situation which he can take a learning from.

When asked what the most challenging part of the project has been so far, Matt is quick to joke that it’s “keeping our Site Manager happy!”. But in earnest Matt shares that it has been adjusting to a new schedule, packed with a 7am to 7pm work day that sees him return home to sit down to chip away at an assignment.

Matt’s favourite thing about working in the Wynyard Quarter? “Definitely the people! My workmates, the project’s neighbours and everyone in between make my day, every day.”