The sewer diversion near SH29A started last month with sheet piles installed to support the trench walls. The existing sewer pipe is in the foreground.

What happened in October

Last month, work continued around the Bayfair roundabout and along State Highways 2 and 29A, near Baypark.

This work included:

• Traffic switch on SH2 Maunganui Road with city-bound vehicles driving on the new lanes, and new work areas being established on the Bayfair side.
• Clearing vegetation and installing temporary fencing in the SH2 verge along Maunganui Road, in preparation for construction of the new Maunganui-Girven Papamoa bound on-ramp.
• Starting to place fill for the new SH29A rail overpass embankment, and installation of Mechanically Stabilised Earth (MSE) walls (similar to retaining walls) for the new SH29A bridges.
• Ground improvements continued for the new Baypark city bound on-ramp and stone column ground works started.
• A new gas line along Matapihi Road was commisioned and water main relocation works started on the northern side.
• Redundant overhead power lines near SH29A were removed; water main relocation completed and sewer diversion started.

The works around Harris Street and Bayfair Shopping Centre are part of the Bayfair expansion and not related to this project.

Stone column groud works continue near Baypark and will involve weekend closures of SH29A, between the Te Maunga and Baypark roundabouts. Detours will be in place along Truman Lane and Mangatawa Link Road from 9pm Friday 23 November to 4am Monday 26 November 2018.

What to expect during November

During November, the focus will continue around the Bayfair roundabout and State Highways 2 and 29A as we continue construction for the new city bound lanes and start on the new Papamoa bound lanes.

You can expect:

• Completion of water main relocation along Matapihi Road and Owens Place. This will enable the new road along the southern side of Matapihi Road to be constructed.
• Work will begin in the northern corner of Matapihi Road and SH2 to complete the new city bound on-ramp.
• A temporary footpath and residential access along Maunganui Road, between Girven Road and Exeter Street will be installed, prior to construction of the new Maunganui-Girven Papamoa bound on-ramp.
• Changes to the road layout at Te Maunga intersection to allow earthworks and ground improvements to continue for the SH2/SH29A city bound off-ramp.
• Construction of the SH2/SH29A city bound on-ramp and rail overpass embankment fill will continue with stone column ground works.
• Continuation of the sewer diversion near SH29A.

For the safety of drivers and their passengers, and also for the people working on the project, please take care driving through the site and keep to the temporary speed limits.

A new underpass will be built to help meet future demand from residents, school children, shoppers, cyclists and commuters.

New underpass announced

The NZ Transport Agency has announced that the Baypark to Bayfair Link project will now include a new separated pedestrian and cycle underpass at the Bayfair roundabout. 

The decision reflects community feedback, the government’s focus on safety and encouraging people out of cars, future growth and the increasing popularity of cycling in this area.

Once completed, the project will provide people walking or cycling two options to cross State Highway 2; to use a new underpass connecting Matapihi Road and Bayfair Shopping Centre, or cross through the roundabout using the traffic lights.

A detailed design process needs to be completed before construction of the new underpass can begin. Construction will be carried out in stages, with pedestrian and cycle access maintained throughout.

Overall use of the current underpass between 2017 and 2011 has doubled, and the number of cyclists using the underpass in that same period had tripled.

The Te Maunga and Baypark roundabouts have been removed and replaced with temporary roundabouts. The SH29A left turn slip lane at the Te Maunga intersection has been closed permanently, as construction of the new city-bound SH2/SH29A off ramp starts.

Narrow lanes and temporary traffic changes

The changes to the road layout near the Bayfair roundabout and the Te Maunga intersection are needed to expand or create new work areas as construction progresses.

Working in a narrow corridor next to live traffic lanes presents challenges. Our focus is on keeping the public and workers safe, while minimising inconvenience to road users throughout the construction area.  We apologise for any inconvenience the changing road and footpath layouts may cause.

As we progress towards the final layout, further temporary traffic management changes will take place, and for your safety and the safety of others please slow down and drive to the conditions when travelling through the project area.

Contact us

For more information on the Baypark to Bayfair Link upgrade project, contact us baylink@nzta.govt.nz

Visit our website www.nzta.govt.nz/baylink