The Tauranga Eastern Link project – the Bay’s largest ever roading project – is at the half way mark and the ‘To do’ list is slowly shortening, says the NZ Transport Agency.
The $455 million Transport Agency project, set to be completed in late 2015, is making steady progress with most of the structures under construction.
So what’s next to do:
Over the coming weeks drivers will see a lot of activity around Mangatawa and Domain Road, with a number of traffic switches onto sections of new road planned for late October. 6 km of the TEL is upgrading existing highway and motorists are already using part of the new road at Te Maunga which opened in July. The other 17 km they will have to wait to use when the new road officially opens.
Mr Gliddon says the region has waited for a long time for the new eastern link road which will provide a safer and quicker journey from Te Maunga to Paengaroa.
“This new tolled highway will improve the safety of motorists from Te Maunga to Paengaroa, enable freight movements from the east and central parts of the region to be more efficient due to the travel time savings and support future growth in the east.”
Work to build the highway began in December 2010. The forecasted completion date for the project was mid 2016, but thanks to the steady progress this has been moved to an earlier date of late 2015 says Mr Gliddon.
