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

  • New Zealand to install electric highway to encourage EV uptake
    September 28, 2016
    BMW Group New Zealand is to partner with Charge Net NZ to help stimulate the installation of a network of fast-charging EV stations in New Zealand. More than 100 stations will be installed across the country.
    Read More
  • Sice backs New Zealand tolling
    October 17, 2022
    Sice NZ will work on new back-office with Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency
    Read More
  • European tunnel upgrades following new safety legislation
    August 20, 2015
    Across Europe there is a very mixed picture of compliance to latest safety standards for road tunnels. Best practice has emerged, however, in the wake of European legislation. Jon Masters reports High profile fatal fires following accidents in the Mont Blanc, Tauern and Gotthard tunnels prompted the 2004 European Union Directive 2004/54 on road tunnel safety. This meant all EU member states would have to meet new standards of safety in road tunnels by 30 April 2014. The Directive applied to all tunnels over
    Read More
  • Indra to upgrade Algeria’s Bouïra tunnel
    September 2, 2015
    The National Road Agency of Algeria (ANA) has awarded a contract for the modernisation of the Bouïra tunnel to a consortium comprising of the state construction company Cosider TP and Indra. The contract, which is worth US$12.3 million to Indra, will run for 15 months. It will deliver an integrated management solution and intelligent traffic systems for the tunnel, which is located on the east-west highway and crosses the country from the border with Tunisia to the border with Morocco and sees the heavi
    Read More

Highlighted Content