Hawkins Infrastructure was the main contractor in delivering the $47 million DART 1 project that featured the redevelopment of Newmarket Station, the creation of 1.3km of rail track, and replacement of the Remuera Road Bridge. The operational objective of the Newmarket Rail Station was to increase the station capacity in order to operate a reliable passenger service of six trains per peak hour in each direction and to provide for easy transfer activities between southern and western line services. The station was designed with future growth in mind, which is estimated at 17,000 passenger movements per day by 2016 compared to the 3,500 at present.

The new station saw the creation of major new structures including concourses, platforms, foot bridges, roof canopies, lifts, escalators, stairs, ramps and a variety of fixtures, fittings and associated services including acoustic design. Each of these features was constructed around/over a fully operational rail corridor.

To allow for the future electrification of Auckland's rail network, Hawkins Infrastructure laid the new replacement track lower than the former line, requiring extensive earthworks in a highly restricted environment. Consequently, Remuera Road Bridge had to be removed and rebuilt at a higher elevation. The replacement bridge was built from precast concrete bridge deck units spanning reinforced concrete piers (with piled foundations and impact protection to piers) and was substantially reconfigured to provide improved pedestrian access to the main entrance of the new station.

Access during construction was one of the most challenging issues to be dealt with on this project. The shape and location of the site presented particular difficulties right from the outset of the design phase, as it was surrounded by commercial and residential premises in very close proximity to the main work area. The site was long and narrow, 660m by 27m, with access at the end furthest away from the location of the actual station building.

Further complications included having to maintain operation of full commuter and freight train services except during pre-booked rail shutdowns (typically arranged over public holidays). All works had to be programmed around the train timetables (trains running at 10 to 15 minute intervals during peak times) with many major construction elements having to be delivered and/or erected after 10:00pm after the last train for the night had passed through the site.

Construction activity had to comply with ONTRACK's health and safety requirements for working adjacent to a live railway and, coupled with unusual site dimensions and access, many standard construction techniques had to be modified accordingly.

The development of a Site Specific Environmental Plan took into account the management of contaminated material on the site, noise (especially with the close proximity of the surrounding residents and businesses), dust and sediment. This site was audited by Telarc as part of Hawkins’ successful ISO14001 certification process. The auditor was impressed by the level of environmental awareness on the site and the implementation of sound environmental systems.

Hawkins Infrastructure engaged a dedicated and specialist community liaison officer to inform the public of the construction activity and to handle all the questions that arose. This officer worked closely with ONTRACK's own community liaison team to ensure that a consistent message was delivered.

The new station was successfully opened on 18 January 2010.