City Rail Link cost concerns are re-igniting calls for a shake up to the way we approach infrastructure.

The project's former boss Sean Sweeney claims the build could've been completed at half the estimated $5.5 billion.

It sparked Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop to announce a full review of the project after it's opened later this year.

Civil Contractors New Zealand CEO Alan Pollard told Mike Hosking Sweeney's views line up with broader over-spending concerns.

He says we have a tendency to favour bespoke design, whereas having a catalogue of standard designs would be much more efficient.

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