After ten months, the Central Interceptor TBM has passed its official Factory Acceptance Test (FAT). The TBM, which has been named ‘Hiwa-i-te-Rangi’ after a Mataariki star, has been assembled at the Herrenknecht factory, using parts from all over the world. The TBM,  190-m long and 5.47-m in diameter,  will soon be dismantled and shipped to New Zealand.  

The TBM Hiwa-i-te-Rangi will begin digging the 14.7km Central Interceptor wastewater tunnel from Grey Lynn to Māngere Wastewater Treatment Plant in early 2021. It will store as well as convey wastewater and will clear up 80 % of wet weather overflows into Auckland waterways.  

The Central Interceptor is being delivered for Watercare by Ghella Abergeldie JV.  Click here for a video and here and nz/18 for the tunnelbuilder archive. Visit  https://www.watercare.co.nz/. 39/20.