Tauranga Eastern Link

The dead whale found on Papamoa Beach today

Latest news and updates on the Tauranga Eastern Link

Officially Opened Monday, August 3, 2015

Plenty of opportunity to explore the Tauranga Eastern Link – via bicycle, helicopter and more. New Zealand’s newest stretch of state highway – the Tauranga Eastern Link (TEL) – was officially opened on Thursday 30 June 2015 by Prime Minister John Key and Transport Minister Simon Bridges. After four and a half years of construction the $455 million NZ Transport Agency project was officially opened five months ahead of schedule.

The Tauranga Eastern Link (TEL) was first discussed in the 1970’s. It started taking shape in the 1990’s and now we are about to open it in August 2015. These large road projects have a long gestation period but eventually everything comes together and we now have an amazing road which we can’t wait to open to the public, some five months early.

After four and a half years, the Fulton Hogan HEB Construction Alliance team is very proud to be nearing the completion of the Tauranga Eastern Link (TEL) Project. As June 2015 unfoldsthe travelling public will see the final touches put in place, especially through the six kilometre section between Te Maunga and Domain Road.

In this edition: 1) Tauranga Eastern Link: The end is in sight; 2) Tolling change ahead for Route K; 3) It’s all go for the Maungatapu underpass; 4) ’Own Your Road’ Checkpoint Safety Campaign, 5) Sculptures for the TEL; 6) ‘Take a journey’ at Fieldays; 7) Bay of Plenty winner for NZ’s Favourite Place to Cycle

Updates on how the TEL is taking shape, and forward plans and programs for the coming months.

Updates on how the TEL is taking shape, and forward plans and programs for the coming months.

The year has got off to a busy start with plenty of work to still be completed. People can expect some changes over the coming months; particularly in the Papamoa area, with the opening of the SH2 / Domain Road roundabout, the opening of the Parton Road overbridge and the reconstruction of the Domain Road interchange. The reconstruction of the fire-damaged section of the bridge is also underway.

Fire officials have suggested the Tauranga Eastern Link bridge fire which covered Papamoa in a blanket of black smoke last night may have been started deliberately. Fire safety and NZTA engineers will examine the scene of last night’s blaze this morning in an attempt to determine the official cause.

A blunt message from Tauranga City Council’s SmartGrowth partners may have helped steer the authority back in line when it comes to fast-tracking land decisions. Councillors yesterday voted 7-2 in favour of accelerating development decisions by rapidly rezoning land within the current SmartGrowth Settlement Pattern, plus a strategic assessment of the wider Tauriko (Western) corridor.

Roading officials are considering increasing the speed limit for the Bay’s Eastern Link to 110km/h. The Bay of Plenty Times reveals why they want to do it, plus they talk to motorist Janet Smith about what it would do to her commute.

Updates on the construction progress of the Tauranga Eastern Link project, including the development of the tolling facility and updates to Zones A, B and C.

Construction is well underway, and a forecast completion date of late 2015. This newsletter provides the latest news and aerial photos of the project.

Since February a number of significant milestones have been achieved on the Tauranga Eastern Link (TEL) project. Read about these works, as well as proposed construction programme for the next four months.

The focus for the project in 2014 includes; the construction of the Parton Road bridge and the Domain Road interchange, completion of the drainage and mowing boat culverts, continued construction of pavement and landscaping.

In this edition: 1) Read about what’s been happening over winter; 2) Learn about the upcoming traffic changes; 3) Find out why the TEL is tolled; and, 4) Discover the future construction program.

Construction updates include: Maketu Road bridge taking shape and earthworks are taking shape significant progress to the TEL alignment.

Significant progress has been made on the TEL over the past few months, much of which isn’t seen easily from the ground. These aerial shots taken last week show the Kaituna River bridge (above) now connected to the embankments allowing construction traffic to cross and the East Coast Main Trunk rail line (below) with concrete deck beams in place.

The latest Contractor’s newsletter highlighting progress made to date on the Tauranga Eastern Link, and what’s coming up.

As part of the 23km Tauranga Eastern Link (TEL) project, stretching from Te Maunga to the SH2/SH33 intersection near Paengaroa, there are seven bridges, including the 150 metre Kaituna River bridge, to be built. Work on four of these structures has started.

Since award of the Tauranga Eastern Link (TEL) construction project, some 16 months ago, the Fulton Hogan HEB Construction Alliance has progressively cleared, reshaped and developed 23km into what is the Bay’s largest ever roading project.

Construction activity on the Tauranga Eastern Link (TEL) has been ramping up over the past few months. As 17km of the project is through ‘greenfields’, Transport Minister Steven Joyce and Tauranga MP Simon Bridges took the opportunity to join the local media for a chance to see progress made in areas less accessible to the public.

Work is now well underway on the Tauranga Eastern Link (TEL). In the area adjacent to the Domain Road roundabout on State Highway 2, vegetation and houses have been removed.

The Tauranga Eastern Link will be the largest state highway project ever built in the Bay of Plenty. It is being delivered by the NZ Transport Agency, with the design and construction by the Fulton Hogan HEB Construction Alliance.

New railings at the Kaituna Cut were blessed yesterday- five months after Atiria Raupita fell to her death from the concrete groyne.

HEB Construction Limited is the winner of the NZ Transport Agency $2.9 million contract to construct the Kaituna Road extension.

A consortium led by Fulton Hogan, and including HEB Construction, Opus International Consultants, URS Corporation New Zealand, Peters and Cheung, and Bartley Consultants will build the Bay of Plenty’s largest roading project.

The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has appointed the contracting team to design and build the Tauranga Eastern Link and announced that construction of the road of national significance is to begin later this month – more than six months earlier than anticipated.

After nearly ten years of planning and preparation, the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has received the green light to build the Tauranga Eastern Link. The Minister of Transport announced on 29 July, that the Government has agreed tolling can help fund the Tauranga Eastern Link. This funding means construction of the Tauranga Eastern Link will start up to ten years earlier than without tolling.

Tolls of $2 for cars and up to $5 for trucks have been approved by the Government to kickstart the new $450 million motorway from Baypark to Paengaroa. Transport Minister Steven Joyce today announced that the 17km of new road bypassing Te Puke would be tolled for up to 35 years.

Construction of the Tauranga Eastern Link road of national significance will start up to 10 years earlier than previously possible following the Government’s approval for the route to be tolled, the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) confirmed today.

One of New Zealand’s biggest roading projects has been brought forward seven years by a plan to charge tolls. Transport Minister Steven Joyce announced that construction of the estimated $455 million Tauranga Eastern Link would begin early next year after the Cabinet agreed to allow tolls of up to $5 on the 23km bypass.