Recently announced funding for Taurangas Hairini Link project allows the NZ Transport Agency to advance planning to the point of developing a preferred option.
Recently announced funding for Tauranga’s Hairini Link project allows the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to advance planning to the point of developing a preferred option.
The work being carried out includes in-depth investigation of route options, public consultation of those route options and then the development of a preferred option.
The investigation of route options will look into widening 15th Avenue, Turret Road and the Hairini Bridge to improve travel time from the city to Welcome Bay, Ohauiti, Maungatapu, Windermere, Oropi and Te Maunga.
The Hairini Link Project also includes investigating the use of under passes and over passes at the existing Hairini Roundabout system at Maungatapu and Hairini.
Once the preferred option is established a Notice of Requirement will be lodged to gain a designation for the preferred route. At that point the existing funding will be used up.
The next round of funding will then be sought to take the project through to detailed engineering design, resource consents and the purchase of properties needed for the project. Once that is completed the project will be ready to take to tender and a fourth round of funding will then be applied for to begin construction.
NZTA Regional Director Harry Wilson says the funding recently announced is the second round of funding for Hairini Link.
“As the larger project will not be completed straight away, advanced works are already being planned that aim to ease traffic congestion and improve public transport, walking and cycling,” he says.
An Open Day providing details of those advanced works is scheduled for October this year. Affected parties and key stakeholders are being contacted ahead of the Open Day.
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
