The project had an extensive planning history, with the earliest consultation in 2000,[2] though the proposal for a route roughly in the area dates from much earlier.For those travelling from North to South (or vice versa) the route enables users to bypass the city centre and reduces reliance on SH1 and the Auckland Harbour Bridge.This was a partnership between the NZ Transport Agency, Fletcher Construction, McConnell Dowell, Parsons Brinckerhoff, Beca Infrastructure, Tonkin+Taylor, and Obayashi Corporation.[11] Alice completed the return journey on 19 October 2015[12] and was dismantled in early 2016 before being transported in sections to the Port of Auckland for shipment back to the German manufacturer.Overheight detection systems prevent oversize vehicles entering, and on-ramp signals regulate traffic flow.[23] Auckland artist Graham Tipene created an artwork named Te Haerenga Hou (meaning New Journey) for the entranceway to the tunnel.