The completion of the NZ Transport Agency’s Tauranga Harbour Link was marked this morning with Minister of Transport Steven Joyce unveiling a plaque to officially open the project.
The completion of the NZ Transport Agency’s Tauranga Harbour Link was marked this morning with Minister of Transport Steven Joyce unveiling a plaque to officially open the project.
The Harbour Link is the largest transportation project undertaken in the Bay or Plenty to date, providing a continuous four lane expressway from Takitimu Drive through to Mount Maunganui.
NZTA Regional Director Harry Wilson says the Harbour Link will provide fast, efficient four-lane access to the Port of Tauranga and Mt Maunganui from the north (Auckland and Coromandel Peninsula) and from the west (Hamilton).
The project has been built as part of the Smart Transport initiative, formed by NZTA, Tauranga City Council, Environment BOP, Western BOP District Council and Environment BOP to coordinate land transport development in the Western Bay of Plenty, and a key component of the wider Smart Growth initiative.
“Smart Transport coordinates the planning and delivery of improved transport infrastructure, and Smart Growth ensures it is integrated with land use planning and the development of other infrastructure.
“The Harbour Link project shows the benefits of this co-ordinated approach. It was completed three months ahead of schedule and under budget. It has doubled the capacity of this critical harbour crossing, providing improved traffic flows, reduced journey times, and more efficient access to and from New Zealand’s largest port. It has also reduced congestion at several busy city intersections, and it provides a safer and more scenic route for cyclists and pedestrians.”
The project was opened in stages to optimise traffic flows through the construction area, with the new Harbour Bridge opening to traffic in September this year, with the original harbour bridge closed to traffic at the same time to enable widening and refurbishing works to commence. A public open day earlier this year gave 20,000 people an opportunity to walk over the new bridge before it was opened to traffic.
“We’re very pleased to be able to deliver a safer, more efficient highway route for the region in time for the busy holiday season. The local community deserve a special word of thanks for their patience and understanding during project construction over the past several months,” Mr. Wilson said.
For more information please contact:
Julie Hannam
Regional Communications Advisor
T 64 07 958 7238
M 64 027 294 2649
julie.hannam@nzta.govt.nz
Factsheet (PDF, 34 KB)
