Tauriko Enabling Works

Project update

10 June 2025

Tēnā koe and welcome to the State Highway 29 (SH29) Tauriko Enabling Works project update.

The team recently celebrated exciting project milestones, with 2 new Tauriko West intersections now in use.

You can read more on these below, along with:

• Tauriko Village works
• Service upgrades
• Project stats
• Meet the team
• Tauriko West Road of National Significance update
• Taurikura Drive works
• Ōmanawa Bridge replacement

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) and Tauranga City Council (TCC) are progressing the Tauriko Enabling Works to improve safety and enable development in and around Tauriko.

The new SH29/Redwood Lane roundabout is open under a temporary layout.

Two new Tauriko West intersections open

May saw significant milestones achieved for the project, with the SH29/Redwood Lane roundabout and Tauriko Village intersection opening, despite extremely wet weather.

Leading up to opening the intersections, the project faced the wettest April on record, with 668mm of rain recorded – almost 4 times the usual average for April (132mm, NIWA) and surpassing the previous record of 383mm back in 1911.

Despite the weather delaying the openings by one week, both intersections are now operating well.

The team continues to monitor the intersections, which remain under temporary layouts as work proceeds on the surrounding areas, including widening SH29 at both sites.

Work continues on the Kaweroa Drive connection to the SH29/Redwood Lane roundabout.

SH29/Redwood Lane roundabout

Motorists are now using the new SH29 and Redwood Lane roundabout.

It’s temporarily operating with one lane in each direction while work continues on widening SH29 on the eastern side, along with extending the pedestrian and cycle underpass beneath the road and completing the Kaweroa Drive extension of the roundabout.

The Kaweroa Drive connection (pictured above) is expected to open in late 2025/early 2026.

Once completed, the roundabout will have 2 lanes travelling in each direction on SH29 and 4 legs (approach roads).

To see some of the work undertaken to get the roundabout open, check out this flyover from earlier in the year, narrated by Jaden Hohepa from our project team, Downer Engineering Cadet.

What about Belk Road?

Belk Road will connect to Kaweroa Drive via Taurikura Drive, with Kaweroa Drive connecting to SH29 via the new roundabout at Redwood Lane, providing alternative connections to the Tauriko Business Estate.

Tauranga City Council is currently working through the staging and timing of this work with the Tauriko Business Estate land developer, who will be delivering the roading connections. Belk Road residents and the wider community will be informed once a timeframe and details are confirmed.

The new Tauriko Village intersection opened in May.

SH29/Tauriko Village intersection

The new Tauriko Village intersection is now open. 

Currently, it provides access to the new Tauriko School and Playcentre carpark. In the future it will also link to the planned Tauriko West community. This new community is being developed to support Tauranga’s growing population and is expected to accommodate up to 4000 new homes.

This will be the ‘northern access’ to Tauriko West, while the Redwood Lane roundabout will eventually provide the ‘southern access’.

Though currently operating as a give way intersection without lights while the team works on the surrounding infrastructure, the intersection will eventually feature additional lanes and be signalised with traffic lights.

To see some of the work undertaken prior to opening this intersection, check out the flyover from earlier in the year, narrated by Daniel Barnard, Downer Engineering Cadet.

Feedback from the Tauriko School community on the new intersection and carpark has been positive, with staff, students and their families enjoying increased capacity and safer access to the school away from the busy state highway.

Meanwhile, the future location of the school is being looked at as part of planning for a new 4-lane SH29 from north of Ōmanawa Bridge connecting to Takitimu North Link Interchange, as part of the Tauriko West project. A project which supports economic growth, productivity and housing development, improves safety, and provides a more resilient roading network (read more on this below).

The proposed route for the new SH29 means Tauriko School will need to relocate. NZTA, Kāinga Ora - Homes and Communities and Ministry of Education Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga are actively working together to secure a suitable site within the future Tauriko West community for Tauriko School.

In the meantime, the community can be assured Tauriko School will remain open and operational until the school shifts to its new site.

Noise wall construction underway outside Tauriko School.

SH29 Tauriko Village lane shift

With the new intersection now open, traffic through Tauriko Village has been moved towards the southern side of SH29 to enable construction on the northern (Tauriko School) side.

This work involves widening the road and constructing the shared footpath and cycleway which will run through the village to Cambridge Road and is expected to take around 12 months.

Once complete, traffic will be moved to the northern side of SH29 to allow work to begin on the widening of the southern side.

The current temporary layout has narrowed the shoulder for properties on the southern side of the road and we ask everyone to take extra care when travelling through this section, while people adjust to the new layout.

Meanwhile the team has been busy constructing noise walls outside Tauriko School (pictured above) and further east on SH29 to help minimise traffic noise for the school and residents along this busy section of state highway.

Elsewhere in Tauriko, retaining wall works continue on a short section of Cambridge Road, which is also being widened from 2 lanes to 4 to accommodate a new signalised intersection with bus and walking and cycling access to Whiore Avenue.

The upgraded intersection of SH29 and Cambridge Road will feature a walking/cycling and bus connection to Whiore Avenue.

Whiore Avenue and Gargan Road service upgrades

As part of constructing the infrastructure that is helping to future proof this growing part of Tauranga, wastewater and footpath upgrades will be completed on Whiore Avenue along with watermain upgrades on Gargan Road.

Investigative works got underway on the Whiore Avenue wastewater upgrades in April 2025 in preparation for infrastructure upgrades in the area, including a connection to SH29 for buses, pedestrians and cyclists.

The physical wastewater upgrades were due to follow in May but have been delayed until mid-July as further investigative works are required.

Once these wastewater upgrades are completed (expected to be in early September) we’ll begin works to construct a new footpath and future bus stop provisions on the southern side of Whiore Avenue.

Meanwhile watermain upgrades will get underway on Gargan Road in mid-June, for approximately 5 weeks.

Temporary traffic management will be in place and include shoulder closures, mobile operations, lane changes, nighttime stop/go and intermittent resident only access at Gargan Road.

Once the Gargan Road works are complete, the team will shift focus to watermain installation on the southern (Hamilton bound) lane of SH29, starting just north of Redwood Lane and working towards the Tauriko Village.

Wetland now in settling process

Preliminary works at the corner of Takitimu Drive Toll Road and SH29 at the Takitimu Drive roundabout are now complete.

The team carted fill materials (soil) removed from the Tauriko Village works to a future wetland area which will eventually function as a natural filter for stormwater run-off. 

This soil will compress and strengthen the soft soil underneath over the next year to improve ground stability and prevent excessive settlement after construction.

Following this settlement period, construction on the wetland can begin, along with upgrades to the stormwater system which are planned to start in 2026.

Special guests on site

In recent months, Transport Minister Chris Bishop, Tauranga Mayor Mahé Drysdale and Western Bay of Plenty Mayor James Denyer visited the Tauriko Enabling Works project site, along with local MPs, Tauranga City Council and Western Bay of Plenty District Council elected members and media.

The Minister was joined by MPs Sam Uffindell and Tom Rutherford in late April as he announced the next stage of Tauriko West transport upgrades, which will integrate with the Tauriko Enabling Works.

While Mayors Drysdale and Denyer were joined by their elected members during visits in May to see progress on the works.

The project in numbers

The new SH29/Redwood Lane roundabout is 47m in diameter – designed to cater to even the largest of loads on this critical national freight route.

Here’s a look at some other project numbers:

• 244,000 plants and trees. That’s right – nearly a quarter of a million leafy legends will be planted to green up the landscape and boost biodiversity.
• 14.5 kilometres of underground pipes. This includes water, wastewater, and stormwater – an underground network which stretches farther than a drive from Tauriko to Mount Maunganui.
• 10.1 kilometres of cabling. From fibre to power, that’s enough cable to stretch around the Tauranga Harbour Bridge 5 times – talk about connected!
• 6.7 kilometres of undergrounded power lines. That’s the same as 15 laps around Baypark Speedway – all now buried beneath the ground, making Tauranga’s skyline clearer and our power network more resilient.
• 53,500 square metres of fresh asphalt. Smooth, black, and built to last – that’s enough asphalt to reseal 7 rugby fields at Blake Park.

Meet the team – Heath, Site Traffic Management Supervisor (STMS)

What is your role and how did you get into this career?

I was in the automotive parts industry for about 15 years, before deciding I wanted a career change.

I was a sales rep in my last role and found the listing for a Traffic Management Operative (TMO) job with Downer, which is an entry level type position. This was in March last year (2024), and I’ve I worked my way up since. There’s been a lot of on-the-job training along with some training courses, and practical testing.

What is an average day like for you?

My job involves managing the vehicle movements on site and making sure vehicles and plant (machinery) move through the site, and on nearby roads, safely. As I am very new to this role, my day-to-day and week-to-week have remained similar, but I expect that to change as the project progresses and hits more milestones.

The rest of the job is people management and allocating tasks for them to do – and motivating them to achieve them.

And then there’s the paperwork, which is documenting vehicle and plant movements, ensuring everyone is where they need to be.

What is the hardest aspect of your job?

The hardest aspect can be quite variable. Sometimes it’s trying to fit everything into one day, other days it’s keeping on top of site maintenance tasks – it all comes down to time management and good team work.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

The best part of my job is getting to work with my amazing team. They all work so hard, and I credit them all for where I am today and what I have achieved in a relatively short period. I owe them a big thanks for having my back and making things easier.

What’s one thing you wish members of the public knew, which would help to keep the roads and workers like yourself safe?

To just remember that we are people and want to get home just as much as you do.

Significant SH29/SH29A Tauriko West milestone reached

In April, a significant project milestone was reached with the NZTA Board endorsing the Investment Case for the Tauriko West Road of National Significance (RoNS), and approving funding for the route protection phase for the project.

During this phase, NZTA is designating and consenting the project, undertaking specimen design, completing geotechnical investigations, relocating utilities and progressing conversations with landowners.

This phase gives landowners and the community certainty of the route and ensures NZTA is best placed to move forward when funding for design and construction becomes available. It also protects the route from being built out in the upcoming development of the area.

The Tauriko West project will be completed in 4 phases:

• Ōmanawa Bridge replacement (SH29) – The replacement of the Ōmanawa Bridge, realignment of the connections on SH29 around the bridge and minor improvements to the Ōmanawa Road Intersection (indicative timeframe: 2023/24 to 2027).
• Route protection for SH29 and SH29A – Designating, consenting and progressing buying property so we’re ready to proceed with the detailed design and construction when funding is made available. This also protects the route from being built out in the upcoming development of the area (indicative timeframe: 2024/25 to 2028/29).
• SH29 offline – Constructing a new 4-lane SH29 from north of Ōmanawa Bridge to connect to Takitimu North Link Interchange including Takitimu Drive Toll Road, and revocation of the existing SH29 (design and construction indicative timeframe, subject to funding 2028/29 – 2034/35).
• Widening existing SH29A – From Takitimu Drive Toll Road to Barkes Corner and a new interchange at Barkes Corner (design and construction indicative timeframe, subject to funding 2031/32 – 2038/39).

Next steps for the project

• Tendering for services to undertake the designation, consenting and specimen design for SH29/SH29A Tauriko West. We expect this work to get underway from mid-2025 and to be completed in 2028/29.
• Work is progressing on the Ōmanawa Bridge replacement which is part of the SH29/SH29A Tauriko West project. The project is in the consenting and detailed design phase and NZTA expects construction to start late 2025, pending designation and consenting approvals. You’ll find more information below and here.

For SH29/SH29A Tauriko West project updates, please sign up at nzta.govt.nz/tauriko-west.

Artist impression of the Taurikura Drive upgrade.

Works at Taurikura Drive ahead of Tauriko expansion

Tauranga City Council’s work on Taurikura Drive, outside the Tauranga Crossing shopping centre and between State Highway 36 (SH36) and Whiore Avenue, is underway to ensure it meets traffic demands over the coming years. 

Upgrades include adding more lanes and replacing the roundabout used to enter Tauranga Crossing with a signalised intersection. This will support increased volumes of traffic and improve access ahead of new housing coming to Tauriko West from 2027.

A second signalised intersection will be constructed as part of the project, and the signalised pedestrian crossing outside Pak’nSave on Taurikura Drive will be moved closer to the Whiore Avenue roundabout. New shared use paths will provide safe walking and cycling options between Tauranga Crossing, Tauriko Business Estate and properties in The Lakes. Expanded bus facilities will improve access to public transport for people working, living and shopping in the area.

The upgrade will integrate with future improvements along Whiore Avenue, as part of the SH29 Tauriko Enabling Works mentioned above.

While this work is underway on Taurikura Drive and at the SH36 roundabout, lanes have been changed and traffic management is in place, with a reduced speed limit. This upgrade is expected to take 12 months to complete, and people are encouraged to be patient and drive carefully through the site.

To complete the project efficiently, the works will be undertaken both during the day and at night with some weekend works also expected to be required. The construction programme has been designed with the aim to get the bulk of the works done by October 2025, prior to the busy Christmas retail period.

Access to Tauranga Crossing and the BP service station and through to the other businesses in the Tauriko Business Estate will be maintained during the works.

More information about this work can be found here.

Ōmanawa Bridge replacement

Later this month, we’ll start investigating some potential archaeological sites which have been identified through our initial site assessments. The footprint of the new bridge and where the proposed new road will go is approximately 25 metres south of where the current bridge is. We now have an archaeologist to explore these potential sites and document any findings on behalf of Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga under an archaeological authority, granted to NZTA.

Together with the archaeologist, a kaitiaki from one of our local hapū Ngai Tamarawaho, Ngāti Kahu and Ngāti Hangarau, will be onsite. Kaitiaki play a vital role in collaborating with the team, identifying changes in soil structure, and confirming evidence of archaeology, such as midden pits, food storage pits and Māori artifacts.

While we’re continuing to progress the detailed design, we’re seeking statutory approvals for the works. Pending regional resource consent approvals, the goal is to confirm the programme and move into the construction phase late 2025.

Summer maintenance season wrapped

Drivers in the Bay of Plenty can breathe a sigh of relief – the massive 2024/25 road maintenance programme has wrapped up. 

After months of dedicated work through the summer, crews have completed an ambitious schedule of road rebuilds, resurfacing, and chip sealing, alongside ongoing maintenance efforts. 

Major worksites completed include: 

• 137 lane kilometres repaired or rebuilt in the Bay of Plenty
• 6 road rebuilds on SH29 Kaimai Range between Tauriko and the summit
• 8 asphalt resurfacing sites in and around urban Tauranga on SH2 and SH29
• A 5-week road rebuild on SH2 north of Tauranga near Snodgrass Road
• Several weeks of resurfacing work in the Waioweka Gorge on SH2, which required full road closures at times.

NZTA would like to thank the public for their patience while all this important work was completed.

Crews are now shifting gears to focus on keeping roads safe through the colder, wetter months. With temperatures starting to drop, teams will be tackling routine upkeep and responding to weather-related issues, like slips, flooding and road closures.

For latest highway conditions check out the NZTA Journey Planner.

In brief:

Kaimai closure: SH29 Kaimai Range will be closed for 4 nights, from Sunday 15 June to Thursday 19 June, between 8pm and 3.30am each night. These closures are necessary to complete routine maintenance, including drain clearing, sign maintenance, road marking and surface repairs. More information.

Matariki: The Tauriko Enabling Works sites will be closed for Matariki on Friday 20 June, reopening on Monday 23 June. Site checks will continue, and minimal temporary traffic management will remain in place to ensure safety.

More information

For more information on the Tauriko Enabling Works project:

Email us at bopprojects@nzta.govt.nz

Phone 0800 262 729 (Downer 24/7 freephone)

Visit our website nzta.govt.nz/tauriko-enabling-works