The NZ Transport Agency says contractors have made excellent progress moving Auckland's Rob Roy Hotel nine metres this morning, and the historic building is now 28 metres along the journey to its temporary home.
The 124-year-old hotel is being moved a total of 40 metres so that necessary work can start on the Victoria Park Tunnel project.
The NZTA's State Highways Manager for Auckland, Tommy Parker, says clearing the brick and mortar building from its original foundations has made a considerable difference to the speed of the move.
"The hotel is now crossing ground that is stronger and more stable and this has enabled the team to extend the reach of the hydraulic rams pushing the hotel each time the building is moved," says Mr Parker.
Another 12 metres remain before the move is complete. The NZTA is confident the move will be completed today, but Mr Parker repeated that time is not the issue and the priority remains to get the hotel to its destination safely.
The Rob Roy is being pushed by the rams along a series of concrete runways covered with Teflon to make it slide easier.
It is being moved so that the NZTA and its partners in the Victoria Park Tunnel Alliance can start work on the southern portal of the motorway tunnel. When that work is completed in six months, the hotel will be pushed back to its original site, which will be above the tunnel portal.
