The work to construct both the tunnel and the park must be completed by Anzac Day 2015.
Four Phases of Construction
The Memorial Park project can be broken into four phases of work. These include:
- Phase one - site preparation (late 2012 – early 2013)
- The engineers prepare a plan for the tunnel and the road
- The main road in Buckle Street is moved to a temporary position
- Underground water, gas, telecommunications and electricity pipes are moved out of the way.
- Phase two - dig the trench (early 2013 – late 2013)
- Road workers dig out the soil and build retaining walls for the trench where the tunnel will go
- At its deepest point, the trench is 12m at the sides for drainage and 10m through the middle.
- Phase three - construct the tunnel (late 2013 – late 2014)
- The tunnel floor, walls and roof are constructed
- A new road is built to run from the Basin Reserve to Taranaki Street.
- Phase four - build the park (late 2014 – ANZAC Day 2015)
- Create terraces covered in grass and trees, pathways and seats
- Build the paved Ceremonial Plaza in front of the National War Memorial.
