The NZ Transport Agency marked a small but important milestone when the extension to Truman Lane was opened today.
The Truman Lane extension is one of the Tauranga Eastern Link’s six support projects. It involved extending Truman Lane 1.3 km east and joining it to Mangatawa Lane. Residents can now use the extended Truman Lane to access the highway near the Te Maunga roundabout.
The NZTA’s Bay of Plenty State Highway Manager, Rod James joined stakeholders and residents from Mangatawa and Truman Lanes in a blessing and ribbon cutting ceremony to officially open the new section of road.
“The Truman Lane extension is an important step to prepare for the future widening of State Highway 2 from Te Maunga to Domain Road. It also provides a safer driving environment for local residents because they no longer have to contend with state highway traffic to access their homes. There’s a bit more work to do tying in the new road to Mangatawa Lane before its existing highway access can be completely closed,” says Mr James.
Construction is now underway on the $455M four-lane Tauranga Eastern Link. It 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.
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)
