Progress for Tauranga Eastern Link
The NZ Transport Agency expects to award two contracts this month for projects that will precede construction of the Tauranga Eastern Link project, to extend Truman Road and relocate a water main.
The $455 million project to build a four-lane motorway between Te Maunga and Paengaroa, comprises of two sections - an upgrade of the existing State Highway 2 between Te Maunga and Domain Road at Papamoa and a new motorway from Domain Road to Paengaroa. Only the completely new section of the road is proposed to be tolled.
In December the NZTA Board submitted a formal proposal to the Minister of Transport to bring forward the start of construction on the project by tolling one section of the road. The Minister has yet to decide whether to recommend to the Governor General that an Order in Council be established to toll the road.
Consultation conducted last year showed overwhelming public support to toll the new road, so construction can begin five to 10 years earlier than if it was funded through traditional funding sources.
Tauranga Eastern Link will improve connections between the Eastern Bay of Plenty and the Port of Tauranga, provide better access for people in the growing urban area of Papamoa and take freight traffic out of Te Puke township.
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Open Day for Northern Arterial
An Open Day will be held next month for people to have a look at the options being considered for the Tauranga Northern Arterial route.
The Northern Arterial is a 6.8km section of SH2, from the SH2/Loop Road intersection (north of Te Puna) to Route K in Tauranga City. The aim of the planned work is to improve travel time, reliability and safety on this major transport link between the Bay of Plenty, Auckland and the Coromandel Peninsula.
The Tauranga Northern Arterial will bypass Bethlehem and Te Puna and support safer public transport, cycling and walking on the current state highway route. The new road will remove a significant number of vehicles from the current section of SH2 through Bethlehem and Te Puna, providing improved trip reliability, a safer road and better local access for those communities.
The Tauranga Northern Arterial forms a major part of Tauranga Northern Corridor Strategy, which stretches along SH2 from Bethlehem to Katikati. This section of SH2 includes Omokoroa and Te Puna, and is also part of the Pacific Coast Highway tourist route.
A $3M secondary investigation into this project is currently underway. This includes a detailed geotechnical assessment and review of the current project route and scope to confirm the preferred route.
The Open Day in mid-April will present the options and challenges being considered by NZTA and the design team. Keep an eye out for more details on the date and location for this event.
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Update on Hairini
The investigation stage for the Hairini Link project's advanced works is now complete.
All the suggestions and concerns people put forward at November's information day are now being assessed. People used feedback forms to put forward suggestions, and project engineers and planners at the day also took notes. Some of those with specific concerns are being contacted for further discussion.
The construction phase of the project will begin once funding is secured later this year, and the work is likely to be staged to minimise disruption to road users. Investigations will be continuing for about another year to develop a range of long-term options. You can still see the plans online at: www.sunlive.co.nz/10397a1.page
An open day with more information on Hairini is likely to be held in August or September. If you want to receive regular email updates on this Project, email hairinilink@nzta.govt.nz.
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Works Start on Wharf St
Major road works get underway this month on Wharf Street.
New bus stops |
The work involves reconstructing and resurfacing the road and installing new kerb and channelling. At the same time the sewer will be upgraded, and improvements made to stormwater, water mains and some parts of the footpath.
The work will take five or six weeks to complete, and while it is underway the street will have one way traffic only for motorists travelling from Cameron Rd or Durham St into the city centre. Over Easter work on the road will stop to accommodate the city's Jazz Festival traffic and other Easter activities in the city.
Once the Wharf St work is completed, new work will begin replacing a 100 year old sewer main, starting in Hamilton St and eventually moving to Willow St. Pedestrian access will be open at all times on these roads.
While these road works are continuing, the BayHopper Tauranga buses are operating from temporary bus stops on Durham Street.
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Earthworks on Kairua
Major road works are underway on Kairua Road between number R194 and the intersection with Welcome Bay Road. The work involves some earthworks to improve bends, reconstructing and resurfacing the road, installing new kerb and channelling and upgrading stormwater and a water main. Some disruption to traffic can be expected at times and there will be speed restrictions in place. The work is expected to take about 10 weeks to complete.
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New Signals at Golf Rd
Work starts soon on new traffic signals at the intersection of Golf Rd and Oceanbeach Rd. This intersection backs up during peak traffic times, and pedestrians often have a long wait to cross the road to the beach and Omanu shops. The work to install new traffic signals is expected to be underway before Easter.
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