Multi-million dollar safety upgrade for New Zealand tunnel

New Zealand transport Minister Simon Bridges has announced work is set to begin on a multi-million dollar fire deluge system that will improve safety and reduce the risk of lengthy closures at Lyttelton Tunnel south of Christchurch. The US$19.9 million (NZ$28.7 million) project is the largest project undertaken at the tunnel since it opened in 1964. The contract has been awarded to McConnell Dowell, with work set to start in the coming weeks. A fire sprinkler system is the most effective means of mana
May 18, 2017 Read time: 1 min
New Zealand transport Minister Simon Bridges has announced work is set to begin on a multi-million dollar fire deluge system that will improve safety and reduce the risk of lengthy closures at Lyttelton Tunnel south of Christchurch.


The US$19.9 million (NZ$28.7 million) project is the largest project undertaken at the tunnel since it opened in 1964. The contract has been awarded to McConnell Dowell, with work set to start in the coming weeks.

A fire sprinkler system is the most effective means of managing fire risk in the tunnel and is designed to control and contain a fire until fire services reach the scene. The project involves the construction of two reservoirs, two pump stations, and the installation of 9km of pipe work and 2,400 fire sprinkler nozzles throughout the tunnel.

The project is expected to be complete by December 2018.

Related Content

  • Thales receives signal contract to modernise Montreal Métro
    March 20, 2024
    CBTC deal will include putting SelTrac signalling solution on new extension of blue Line
    Read More
  • California aims to reduce emissions 40 per cent below 1990 levels by 2030
    April 30, 2015
    California’s transportation systems are set for a radical overhaul following Governor Jerry Brown’s Executive order to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions to 40 per cent below 1990 levels by 2030. Figures from the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) show that transportation accounts for 199.3 million tonnes of CO2 - almost 60 per cent of the state’s CO2 emissions, while the next largest is industrial production (62.9 million tonnes), followed by electric power at 36.5 million tonnes, residential us
    Read More
  • Russia to bid for ITS congresses
    March 19, 2014
    Following the announcement in Vienna by Deputy Minister of Transport Alexey Tsidenov, Russia is bidding to host the 2018 ITS World Congress in Moscow and the 2016 European ITS Congress in Kazan. ITS Russia and the GLONASS/GNSS Forum are part of an organising committee that includes the representatives of the Ministry, Federal Road Agency and city administrations. The committee aims to bring the World and European congresses to Russia for the first time and will start by preparing the Russian business da
    Read More
  • Musk Loop to make June Vegas debut
    April 30, 2021
    'Teslas in tunnels' initiative will be ready for Las Vegas Convention Center visitors in June
    Read More

Highlighted Content