The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) recently awarded the $2.9 million contract to construct the extension to Kaituna Road to HEB Construction Limited.
The section of Kaituna Road to be extended is currently a paper road to the east of the Tauranga Eastern Link (TEL) route. The 2.1 kilometre extension will provide access for properties that will be cut off from Pah Road by the TEL.
The project involves relocating utilities, building a new stormwater drainage system and constructing the road extension.
Andrew Scott, the NZTA’s Principal Project Manager says work will get underway this month and is due to be completed by December 2011.
The Kaituna Road Extension is the fifth project of the six TEL support projects to get underway. The other projects include:
A ceremony will be held later this month to mark the beginning of the main construction contract - more than six months earlier than anticipated. The main construction contract was awarded last week to a consortium led by Fulton Hogan.
Keep up-to-date with developments at www.nzta.govt.nz/tel(external link)
Editor's notes
The Government has identified seven essential state highway projects linked to New Zealand’s economic prosperity. Called the roads of national significance, or RoNS for short, the NZTA is charged with delivering this programme of state highway improvements within the next 10 years. The RoNS programme represents one of New Zealand’s biggest ever infrastructure investments and is a key part of the Government’s National Infrastructure Plan and Government’s Policy Statement for transport.
The seven RoNS projects are based around New Zealand's five largest population centres. The focus is on moving people and freight between and within these centres more safely and efficiently. Other RoNS may be added in future but currently from north to south the seven projects are: Puhoi to Wellsford - SH1, Completing the Western Ring Route, Auckland - SH16, SH18 and SH20, Victoria Park Tunnel, Auckland - SH1, Waikato Expressway - SH1, Tauranga Eastern Link - SH2, Wellington Northern Corridor - SH1, Christchurch Motorways. More information is available at www.nzta.govt.nz/rons(external link)
