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Takitimu North LinkContractor’s newsletter - Te karere a te kaikirimana |
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15 December 2025 |
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Ngā mihi manahau ki a koutou katoa i a tātou e huritao ana ki ngā kokenga whakaharahara o tēnei kaupapa tūāhanga nui i te tau 2025. Kei tēnei mātārere o te kaupapa o Te Ara o Takitimu ki te Raki ka āta titiro tātou ki te wāhimahi o Wāhanga 1, e 6.8km te roa. Meri Kirihimete ki a koutou otirā e tāria ana ngā kōrero hou ā te 2026. Kia haumaru te haere. Greetings to everyone as we reflect on the great progress this major infrastructure project has made in 2025. This edition of the Takitimu North Link project newsletter features a close up look across the 6.8km Stage 1 site. Merry Christmas and we look forward to sharing more updates in 2026. Safe travels. |
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The bridge to somewhereRising majestically on the western side of State Highway 29 (SH29)/Takitimu Drive Toll Road (TDTR), the nearly completed flyover bridge has already earned a cheeky nickname. With no road yet to connect to, it stands tall but a little lonely - prompting passing commuters to call it the “bridge to nowhere.” Rest assured, this bridge is very much part of the plan. It’s a key feature of Stage 1 of the Takitimu North Link project, and in time, it will go somewhere – connecting to SH29 towards Tauranga CBD. Stretching 363 metres, the flyover forms part of the SH29/TDTR interchange, built to the west of the existing state highway. It spans a section of the Kopurererua Valley Reserve – one of Australasia’s largest urban wetlands. The design also includes a new roundabout providing access to the upcoming highway, while a slip lane on the eastern side will keep traffic flowing smoothly from Tauranga CBD toward Tauriko. Recent progress has seen traffic shift to the east side of the state highway onto a newly built stretch of road, allowing crews to complete southern-end road surface, including the on and off-ramps for the flyover bridge. As work continues, the interchange will soon feel more connected to the wider project. Construction vehicles will use the bridge late January, with all traffic switching over mid-2026. See artists impression below. |
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Fifteenth Ave connection to SH29/TDTRCrews have installed all 12 beams on the new single-lane bridge connecting to Te Puna, Tauriko, and the lower Kaimai. The bridge is really starting to take shape. The crew’s main focus now is constructing lanes and installing a signage gantry. They will also install design panels on the 120m retaining wall already built. The SH29/TDTR to SH2 Fifteenth Ave off-ramp will close for 4 months from January to April 2026, with detours in place to allow work to progress (see map above). |
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Wairoa River Bridge. Bridges updateSmith’s Farm: With the bridge at Smith's Farm near completion, the next steps include installing bridge abutments, balustrades and design panels. Wairoa River Bridge: All 80 beams are now installed on the Wairoa Awa (river) Bridge. The 2 bridge crossheads, where the beams connect, need 180 days to cure. Once the curing is complete, crews will join the bridge structure and then install the barriers to complete the bridge construction. Bridges completed: Cambridge Road, Wairoa Road and Minden Road overbridges are now complete and temporary speed limits have been lifted. Along with Minden Gully off-ramp, 4 out of 10 bridges on the project are now complete. Minden Gully bridges: Made up of 4 bridges, the Minden Road Overbridge is complete, and the off-ramp bridge is currently being used as a haul road for construction vehicles. The main bridge and the on-ramp (which has a shared path) are having their barriers and design panels installed. Pictured below: Minden Gully bridges. |
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Goodbye earthworks, hello pavementsBy the end of this construction season (April/May 2026), crews will have completed all earthworks on the project, moving a total of 3 million cubic metres of material. This milestone is a tremendous achievement and critical to the project’s progress. The focus now shifts to pavement construction – the multiple layers of material that form the road surface. Construction is already underway, with pavement works continuing until the road opens in 2028. Pictured below: Crews undertaking pavement construction at key sites on the project. |
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A Kingfisher in flight over the SH29/TDTR flyover site. Birds, birds, birds – manu on the moveHere on Takitimu North Link, we’re lucky to welcome a variety of manu (birds) throughout the year. This season has been especially busy for bird nesting and bird watching, with plenty of sightings reported by our project team. From operators and labourers to engineers and surveyors, everyone has been keeping an eye out for our feathered friends – showing just how much we value the flora and fauna around us! Kōtare (Sacred Kingfisher) The Sacred Kingfisher is one of our most frequently seen native birds. Often perched on gates, fence posts, or tree branches, they seem just as curious about us as we are about them! Survey Manager Glen even managed to capture an incredible shot of a kingfisher flying past a drone - completely by accident (see photo above). Last season, we discovered a kingfisher nest inside the trunk of a dead tree behind one of our site sheds. Our environmental intern, Pippi, snapped a beautiful photo of 3 chicks huddled together, a real treat for the team (see photo below). Matuku-hūrepo (Australasian Bittern) One of the highlights this season was the return of the Australasian Bittern, a much-loved and endangered native bird. Our eagle-eyed Health and Safety Advisor, Julie, spotted it in late November while driving through the Wairoa Valley. Known for their secretive nature, these birds are a rare sight – so we feel privileged to have repeat visits for the third year in a row! While we haven’t seen any nesting yet, we’re hopeful that one day we’ll witness this special event. Other visitors over the years include New Zealand Dabchick (Weweia), Little Shag (Kawaupaka), Pied Stilt (Poaka), White Heron (Kōtuku), New Zealand Fantail (Pīwakawaka), Tui, Kākā, Paradise Shelduck (Pūtangitangi), Swamp Harrier (Kāhu), Fairy Tern (Tara iti), and more. Each sighting reminds us how important it is to protect and respect the environment we work in. |
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Birds spotted on site include (top left) the very rare and endangered Matuku-hūrepo (Australasian Bittern), (bottom left) a Fairy Tern chick at Fifteenth Avenue and (right) 3 Kingfisher chicks huddled together in the trunk of a dead tree. |
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Campbell, Brett and Adam - our latest social media stars. Meet the Takitimu North Link TeamWe continue to shine a spotlight on the incredible people behind the Takitimu North Link project with three new videos. Head over to the NZTA Waka Kotahi Waikato/Bay of Plenty Facebook page to catch the latest team member profiles – Campbell, Brett and Adam. Dump truck operators Ronnie and Roberto also featured in our Roadwork of the Week series. You can connect with us through our social media channels here. |
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Existing SH2 above Te Puna Quarry Road, facing east towards Te Puna. Takitimu North Link Stage 2 project updateWe’ve been steadily advancing the Takitimu North Link Stage 2 project (Te Puna to Ōmokoroa) throughout 2025, and we’re now into the pre-implementation phase. Applications for statutory approvals were lodged under the Fast-track Approvals Act in August 2025, marking a significant step forward. Consenting is an important milestone, setting out the footprint of the project. An expert panel is assessing the application, and a decision is expected early 2026. There is a considerable amount of land required, and we are prioritising our discussions with property owners through this complex and sensitive process. In September 2025, contracts were awarded for design of the new road. We continue to work with local authorities including Western Bay of Plenty District Council, Bay of Plenty Regional Council and local hapū Pirirākau and Ngāti Taka as this develops. We’re also carrying out ground investigations at key sites near Snodgrass, Ainsworth, Te Puna Quarry and Munro roads, and around Oturu and Te Puna streams. These include geotechnical testing, topographical surveys and soil contamination checks, and will continue through December. This work helps inform the road’s design and planning. November project update Takitimu North Link Stage 2. View the consent application documents at fasttrack.govt.nz. This page outlines the Fast-track approvals process. |
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More information |
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Read more and sign up for updates about the project at:
Takitimu North Link Stage 1 Project Team
Phone - waea ki 0800 865 776 |
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