The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) will undertake geotechnical ground investigations next Monday as part of the Maunganui-Girven Road and Te Maunga SH29/SH2 intersections improvement project.
The geotechnical investigations will help to identify soil conditions and understand how this will impact on each of the options being considered to improve safety and congestion at these two busy intersections.
NZTA’s Acting Bay of Plenty state highways manager, Andrew Scott says this work is important in helping to identify which option is the most effective, in terms of costs and viability.
Mr Scott says the work involves digging test pits and boring testing holes so samples can be collected.
Weather permitting, will start on Monday 27 May, and expected to take a week.
He says survey stakes have already been put in place across the Omanu Golf Course, as well as between the Bayfair Reserve and Owens Place commercial centre.
Upon completion of this work, further analysis of the three options will be carried out.
“This analysis involves understanding the engineering design of the three options as well as the construction costs. We also incorporate public feedback consider the environmental, cultural and social impacts of each of the options”, says Mr Scott.
Once the analysis is completed the NZTA will select a preferred option and advise the public at an open day in early 2014.
For further information about the project, he says enquiries can be directed to the project manager, Greig Stephen on (07) 927 6009. Current information about the project and the options being considered are available from the project website www.nzta.govt.nz/mgi.
