If you didn't get out to the Tauranga Eastern Link (TEL) information centre last month, then this Saturday is your chance to see the latest construction footage, images and other displays on the Bay's largest roading construction project.
NZTA Bay of Plenty state highway manager Brett Gliddon says there is a considerable amount to see at the information centre and those who have already visited are amazed by the different displays which show what the new State Highway 2 road from Te Maunga to Paengaroa will look like when it opens in 2016.
"There is quite a bit to see out there, including a model of the Domain Road interchange which is taking shape right now, and a time lapse video of the Kaituna River bridge construction”.
The weekend openings are being held following high public interest in the project and requests from those who work during the week to visit the centre on the weekends.
The weekend openings are only during the summer months with next month being the last opportunity for the public to be able to see the displays at the TEL Information Centre on the weekend. The information centre is normally open during the weekdays from Monday to Friday 8.30am to 4.30pm.
The Tauranga Eastern Link information centre, located 65 Tara Road, Papamoa, and this Saturday’s opening will be from 10.00am to 1.00pm, parking is available outside the centre.
Keep up-to-date with developments at www.nzta.govt.nz/tel(external link).
Editor’s notes
The four-lane Tauranga Eastern Link will run from Te Maunga (near Baypark Stadium) in Tauranga to the existing junction of State Highways 2 and 33 (the Rotorua and Whakatane highways) near Paengaroa. It will be made up of 17km of new road and an upgrade of six kilometres of existing highway. The new highway is expected to open to traffic in 2016.
The TEL is crucial to supporting growth in the Bay of Plenty – one of New Zealand’s fastest growing regions – and providing freight access from across the region to Tauranga.
The TEL is part of the NZTA’s roads of national significance programme (RoNS for short), which represents one of New Zealand’s biggest ever infrastructure investments. Once completed, the seven RoNS routes will reduce congestion in and around our five largest metropolitan areas, and will move people and freight between and within these centres more safely and efficiently.
Other RoNS are:
More information is available at www.nzta.govt.nz/rons.
