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Tauriko Enabling WorksProject update |
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24 October 2025 |
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Tēnā koe and welcome to the State Highway 29 (SH29) Tauriko Enabling Works project update. In this edition, we’re looking ahead to the completion of the Redwood Lane section of works.
You can read about: NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) and Tauranga City Council (TCC) are progressing this programme of work to improve safety and enable development in and around Tauriko. |
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Wrapping up at Redwood LaneAfter 18 months of construction, the team has completed the majority of infrastructure upgrades in the Redwood Lane section. Here’s a snapshot of what’s been achieved and you can check out the latest flyover here.
With earthworks now complete and the new stormwater system installed and connected, we’ve begun to remove the temporary environmental controls, including sediment ponds and silt fences. You can read more on our environmental measures below. All work in the Redwood Lane section is on track to be completed by the end of the year, including the final road surface layer and line marking. This will see the roundabout open in its completed layout, with 2 lanes in each direction on SH29, and the Kaweroa Drive connection in action. |
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Kaweroa Drive openingWe’re preparing to open the fourth and final leg of the SH29/Redwood Lane roundabout, the Kaweroa Drive connection. This marks a major milestone in the Tauriko Enabling Works project, with the extension of Kaweroa Drive providing a new connection to the Tauriko Business Estate. Final line marking and finishing works will take place in October and November, with the new connection expected to be opened during the weekend of 15/16 November. The primary function of this connection is to support industrial and commercial traffic accessing businesses in the estate and to distribute traffic more evenly between SH29 and SH36. What about Belk Road? Closing the existing SH29/Belk Road intersection remains a key part of the Tauriko Enabling Works project. However, before we can do this, 2 key pieces of work need to be completed:
The sequencing of these 2 key pieces means the permanent closure of the SH29/Belk Road intersection will likely happen towards the end of 2026. Once the Belk Road/Taurikura Drive connection is built, the SH29/Belk Road intersection will be closed permanently. More information. We know many Belk Road residents are eager for the new roading connections to be in place and for the current intersection with SH29 to be closed. Thank you for your patience as this work is completed. The planned improvements will ultimately provide a safer way for all Belk Road residents and businesses to move around, opening additional routes and journey options. |
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Progress in Tauriko VillageWork in Tauriko Village is progressing well, with several new activities underway. For a bird’s eye view, check out the latest flyover here. A stormwater outlet is being constructed behind the new retaining wall in Tauriko Village. Due to the steep terrain, specialist equipment - including a long-reach excavator arm - was required to safely place materials at the bottom of the incline (pictured above). Further west, near Te Ara Hoia Drive, the first 3 rows of Magnum Stone have been installed on the retaining wall there. Backfilling is underway, and as the wall progresses, the anchor heads will be removed. By late November, the team will be ready to remove the temporary sheet piles using a 100-tonne crane. Wastewater system installation has begun at Whiore Avenue, starting at the eastern end near Kōpūrererua Reserve. Works will cross Taurikura Drive and progress up Whiore Avenue in stages using a combination of directional drilling and open-cut trenching. This work is expected to take around 2 months. Once complete, focus will shift to:
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Watermain pipes and progressThe team has been busy installing new watermain pipes along Gargan Road and SH29, with 1.4km of pipes already laid in sections. The first section, between Gargan Road and Redwood Lane, is complete. The team has now shifted west on SH29, working back towards Gargan Road, before continuing through the Tauriko Village section. Work has also started on preparing the new pavement on the northern side of SH29, next to the school, which will make up new road lanes in this area. With new stormwater pipes and the relocation of underground services already completed, the team will begin bulk earthworks and watermain installation in this area. Once completed, pavement materials will be carted to site, placed, and compacted. Next steps:
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A sediment retention pond the morning after 126mm of rain on site. Environmental mattersAs of mid-September, the summer construction earthworks period got underway. This marked the end of winter earthworks restrictions on our project, allowing us to ramp up activity as we head into the warmer, drier months. Over winter, strict limits are placed on how much ground can be open at any one time. These restrictions are in place to protect the environment and ensure risks of sediment runoff and erosion are reduced. This past winter certainly kept the team on its toes – including 9 rain events of more than 50mm falling in a single day. The largest was a huge 126mm in just 24 hours. Rainfall totals for April through July were well above the long-term averages, with April alone reaching 470mm – compared with just 93mm last year, and a usual average of 174mm. Check out the monthly rainfall report below. In other words, if it felt like a very wet winter, you are right! Even so, work continued whenever the weather allowed, and the project team is proud of what was achieved without any impact to the environment. Bay of Plenty Regional Council inspections over this time were consistently positive, and all independent testing confirmed discharges from the sediment retention ponds, and stormwater wetlands met compliance standards. This is a credit to the site team, whose care and commitment kept everything running smoothly and responsibly, including Senior Environmental & Sustainability Advisor, Blayn, who you can read about below. Now that the summer season is underway, the project team can safely increase the scale of earthworks. With longer daylight hours and more stable weather, it’s the ideal time to make progress on excavation, drainage, pavement, and utility installations. The team will continue to follow best practice sediment and erosion controls to ensure the work remains environmentally responsible - even in summer - with a forward focus on dust management. |
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Monthly rainfall report from the Lower Kaimai rain gauge. |
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Meet the teamBlayn - Senior Environmental & Sustainability Advisor How did you get into this career and what is your role? By accident! While at university I spent my summers working for an earthworks company, helping to build environmental controls. After finishing my bachelor’s degree, I was just weeks away from starting a Graduate Diploma in Secondary Teaching to become a geography teacher, but an opportunity came up to stay on with the company and continue working in construction environmental management - and I haven’t looked back. I’ve since worked in roles with Auckland Council and HEB Construction, working on some big projects like the Waikato Expressway - Hamilton Section and Takitimu North Link Project. I’m now the Environmental Manager for the Tauriko Enabling Works project with Downer. What's an average day like for you? No 2 days are the same - it really depends on the weather! Some days I’m out in the rain checking environmental controls, taking water samples, or monitoring noise and vibration. Other days I might be writing reports, putting together management plans, collecting data, or delivering training. I also get to collaborate closely with archaeologists, ecologists, and different site teams, which keeps things interesting and dynamic. Another key part of my role is ensuring we’re meeting compliance requirements and maintaining open, honest relationships with Bay of Plenty Regional Council and Tauranga City Council. I’m proud to say our compliance record on this project has been really positive so far. What is the hardest aspect of your job? Rain! Construction has so many moving parts, and sometimes you need to drop everything and respond to new challenges. While that can be tough, it’s also what makes the job exciting. Problem-solving is huge in this space, and often there’s more than one solution. The challenge - and the fun - is finding the option that works best for everyone. What do you enjoy most about your job? The variety. I get to work across many environmental-based construction disciplines - from erosion and sediment control, noise, vibration and contaminated land, to spill management, archaeology, ecology, and sustainability. Every day brings something new to learn or tackle. I also really value the construction environmental industry in New Zealand. It’s a close-knit, collaborative community where people are always willing to share knowledge and lend a hand, no matter who you work for. What’s one thing you wish members of the public knew about the behind the scenes of construction? A huge amount of planning and effort goes into making sure projects are environmentally responsible. We’re involved before the first machine starts, preparing management plans and ensuring all the necessary consents are in place. Throughout construction, we’re there every step of the way - right up to the final landscaping - making sure compliance is met and that the project leaves the environment in better shape than when we began. You can think of construction environmental staff as the site’s environmental caretakers. We’re here to make sure the work is done responsibly, without harming the environment. In a way, you could say we’re really working on behalf of the environment and are the kaitiaki (guardian) for it throughout the project. |
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Tauriko West Road of National SignificanceWe’ve awarded the contract to protect the route and seek consents for the new Tauriko West SH29 and upgrades to State Highway 29A (SH29A) in Tauranga, a Road of National Significance (RoNS) project. This project is a key step to support economic growth, productivity and housing development, improving safety, and providing a more resilient roading network. This work will enhance travel between Ōmanawa Road and the Port of Tauranga. The new SH29 will feature 4 lanes between the Redwood Lane interchange and the new Takitimu North Link interchange, which is currently under construction. SH29A will also be widened to 4 lanes between the Takitimu Drive Toll Road roundabout and the new Barkes Corner interchange. To progress the next stage, we’ve engaged BBO to support with the designation and consenting work needed to build the state highway. This includes identifying the land required, gaining statutory approvals (such as designation, resource consents, archaeological authorities and wildlife permits), undertaking technical and environmental assessments, relocating utilities, and working with landowners.
We plan to apply for the necessary approvals under the Fast-track Approvals Act 2024 around mid-2026 and expect to finish the route protection phase in 2028/29. Stay up to date with our progress by subscribing to our newsletter. Map of the new SH29 route and SH29A upgrades. |
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Please join us - Tauriko West open dayOn Saturday 8 November 2025 between 11am and 2pm we’ll be hosting a Tauriko West open day at Tauriko School. This will be an opportunity for the wider community to come and learn more about the route protection phase of the Tauriko West RoNS project, the SH29 Tauriko Enabling Works already underway, the SH29 Ōmanawa Bridge replacement, and other developments in the area. |
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Big summer ahead for Bay of Plenty roadsThis summer (September 2025 – May 2026), we're investing heavily in rebuilding and resurfacing roads across the Bay of Plenty, all part of keeping the network safe and reliable, and providing a smoother drive for everyone. You’ll see major works happening on key corridors like:
We’re currently underway with a full rebuild of 1.5km of SH29 near Valley View Road. Temporary traffic management and reduced speed limits are in place until early 2026 and the passing lane near Valley View Road is closed until the rebuild is finished. Works are scheduled Monday to Friday, with traffic management in place by 7am and contraflow (traffic in both directions) between 8am and 5pm. Overnight Sunday to Thursday, from 7pm to 6am, contraflow is removed, and a single lane of traffic is open under stop/go. Weekends see 2 lanes open and no work scheduled. More information. We appreciate your patience as we carry out this important work. Once finished, drivers can look forward to safer, smoother drives in the Bay of Plenty. This work is backed by the State Highway Pothole Prevention fund, which focuses on drainage, renewals, and preventative maintenance helping to prevent potholes before they start. |
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In brief:
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More information |
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For more information on the Tauriko Enabling Works project, contact us at bopprojects@nzta.govt.nz Visit our website www.nzta.govt.nz/tauriko-enabling-works |
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