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

  • Australian traffic safety order for Sensys Gatso
    October 19, 2015
    Gatso Australia, a subsidiary of Sensys Gatso Group, has received an order worth US$6.2 million for traffic safety systems upgrade and services. The order is for the supply, installation and maintenance of 20 new traffic safety systems and includes the extension of maintenance services for existing systems. The supply and installation services are expected to be completed by the end of June 2016, while the maintenance contract services will extend until June 2018. Gatso Australia's managing director
    Read More
  • EU research develops method for evaluating critical infrastructure
    January 10, 2013
    The European Commission’s SeRoN research project has drawn to a close, having developed a sophisticated method of identifying and quantifying threats to critical infrastructure. In December 2008 the European Commission published the directive 2008/114/EC on the identification, designation and assessment of the need to improve ‘European critical infrastructure’. In line with the objectives formulated in this directive, the SeRoN (Security of Road Transport Networks) research project was established in Novemb
    Read More
  • UK city upgrades urban traffic control
    July 5, 2012
    UK infrastructure services provider Amey, which works in partnership with Birmingham City Council to run the highways maintenance service in the city, has placed an order with Siemens for an upgrade to the latest PC Scoot urban traffic control (UTC) system. The existing analogue data transmission system will be replaced with the latest UTMC compliant UG405 outstations installed in tandem with a new internet protocol (IP) communications network on behalf of Amey as part of their UTMC upgrade project in Birmi
    Read More
  • Active traffic management increases safety and capacity
    February 2, 2012
    WSDOT is deploying Active Traffic Management in order to increase safety and capacity on its strategic roads. WSDOT's Patricia Michaud elaborates
    Read More

Highlighted Content