Tauriko Enabling Works

Project update

25 March 2025

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

In this special edition, we’re reflecting on 1 year of construction on the Tauriko Enabling Works, which kicked off at Redwood Lane in March 2024.

You can read about:
- Progress made at Redwood Lane
- What 1 year of construction looks like in numbers
- What’s coming up
- Six months of construction in Tauriko Village

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.

The intersection of SH29 and Redwood Lane has been transformed within the year.

Celebrating 1 year of construction at SH29/Redwood Lane

Construction on the Tauriko Enabling Works began in late March 2024 and progress is evident. The area has been completely transformed, with the roundabout and new lanes of SH29 now fully formed.

Within a year, we’ve gone from clearing kiwifruit vines and vegetation to laying the asphalt surface on the new roads. We’re now gearing up to open the new roundabout (initially with a temporary traffic layout) in early May.

Getting to this stage has required a great deal of work from the team including planning, excavating, installing environmental controls, stormwater drainage, laying powerlines underground, and protecting a gas main. As well as constructing a pedestrian/cyclist underpass, upgrading water mains, installing streetlighting and carting, laying and compacting many layers of fill for the new roads.

The team recently installed the first permanent directional signs ‘Tauranga’ and ‘Give Way’ on the traffic island on the northern side of the roundabout.

We appreciate that despite our best efforts this work has caused some disruption, and we would like to sincerely thank those travelling through the area, and in particular, the nearby residents for their patience and understanding throughout.

Check out our before and after photos below to see how far we’ve come.

• SH29/Redwood Lane before the Tauriko Enabling Works in 2023 – and after in March 2025.
• SH29/Belk Road intersection before Tauriko Enabling Works in 2023 – and after in March 2025.

Redwood Lane progress in numbers

We’ve removed around 29,000 cubic metres of cut-to-waste soil. This gets taken away before new surfaces can be built. If we spread this soil out evenly over a rugby field, it would be almost 6 metres deep.

We’ve imported more than 11,000 cubic metres of structural fill. This replaces the cut-to-waste soil, and we’ve carted more than 1000 truckloads!

We’ve laid almost 1 kilometre of kerb and channel and nearly 10,000 square metres of pavement (this makes up the lower layers of the new roads). That’s enough to cover 1.4 rugby fields.

We’ve installed more than 1200 metres of stormwater pipes to manage rainwater run-off from the new road.

This project has also created employment for many people, with 862 people inducted on site to date. This is a safety process allowing people to be on site.

Motorists can look forward to travelling through the new SH29/Redwood Lane roundabout in May.

Redwood Lane roundabout to open with a temporary layout

Motorists will be travelling through the new roundabout at the intersection of SH29 and Redwood Lane in early May.

Traffic will be switched across to the new (temporary) layout, which will see motorists on SH29 shifted slightly to the west of the current lanes to approach the new roundabout.

Once completed, the roundabout will have 2 lanes travelling in each direction. When it initially opens it will be with 1 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.

This fourth leg, directly opposite Redwood Lane, won’t be in use until the Kaweroa Drive extension is completed later in 2025. Kaweroa Drive will also eventually connect to Taurikura Drive and provide access to the industrial area.

View a map of the final layout.

Further information, including confirmed dates, will be communicated closer to the time.

Roundabout refresher: know your way around a roundabout

When you come up to a roundabout that has only 1 lane in each direction:
• Slow down as you come up to the roundabout and be prepared to give way.
• Give way to all vehicles that will cross your path from your right as you enter the roundabout.
• If you're turning left at the first exit of a roundabout: signal left as you come up to the roundabout.
• If you're travelling more than halfway around a roundabout: signal right as you come up to the roundabout, then signal left as you pass the exit before the one you wish to take.
• If you're going straight through a roundabout: don’t signal as you come up to the roundabout and signal left as you pass the exit before the one you wish to take.

Find out more.

Many layers make a road. Each layer plays a vital role in ensuring the road can withstand traffic loads, resist weather effects, and provide a safe driving surface.

Roads have layers like a cake

Just like a tiered cake, roads are built with multiple layers, starting with the foundation (subgrade) layer at the bottom, followed by increasingly stronger layers (the subbase and basecourse), and finally, the top surface (wearing course), which is like the cake's icing, providing the smooth surface for traffic to travel on. Most new roads are up to 70cm thick!

The team has already constructed most of the layers for the new Redwood Lane section including the subgrade, subbase, and basecourse. The ‘icing’ is currently being applied, with the laying of asphalt underway on the new SH29 lanes, and through the southern side of the new Redwood Lane roundabout. This will connect to the asphalt already laid on the northern side of the roundabout, which was completed in November 2024.

Work on the northern access road which will provide access to the new Tauriko School and Playcentre carpark (top right).

Six months of construction in Tauriko Village

Further north, significant progress has also been made in the Tauriko Village and Cambridge Road section since getting underway 6 months ago.

The team is working towards opening the new northern access road and new Tauriko School and Playcentre carpark in late April.

The new road not only accesses the new carpark but will also link to the planned future community in Tauriko West, which will be developed to help accommodate Tauranga’s growing population.

To minimise disruption, we’re planning to open the new road by the end of the April school holidays. Students, their whānau, and teachers will then return to a brand-new carpark.

The new road will eventually have traffic lights at the intersection with SH29. It will initially open without lights while the team works on the surrounding infrastructure. This includes constructing retaining and noise walls, stormwater, wastewater, and power upgrades, and widening SH29 to allow for additional lanes and a shared path leading through Tauriko Village to Cambridge Road.

Further information will be communicated closer to the time. The team is working hard to minimise disruption and maintain access to businesses and properties throughout the works.

Meanwhile, construction of the major retaining wall on Cambridge Road is well underway, in preparation for the new signalised intersection with SH29. This includes a new connection to Whiore Avenue for buses, people walking and cycling only.

In the coming weeks work will also get underway on the wastewater upgrades in Whiore Avenue. In early April, the team will begin carrying out hydrovac investigations to establish the location of existing underground services. The hydrovac work will take place around the Taurikura Drive roundabout and along Whiore Avenue for approximately 2 weeks.

Meet the team – Jessie, site engineer

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

I'm originally from China. Over there, I had completed a law degree, studied Master of Law and worked as a legal advisor for one of the legislative councillors in Hong Kong local government.

In 2014, I came to New Zealand, which meant a change from a civil law legal system to a common law legal system, meaning my qualifications didn’t carry over, so I had to start again.

I continued my legal studies in environmental law for 2 years at Auckland University, also embarking on a PHD, before moving to Tauranga with my husband and welcoming our first son.

In 2021, I started a cadetship with Downer after completing the Civil Engineering Diploma Study at Toi Ohomai. A cadetship involves a lot of learning on the job and saw me work in different “rotations” across different teams for 3 to 4 months at a time. I spent time in maintenance, construction, paving, estimation, lab, and surfacing.

During this time, I took a year of maternity leave after welcoming my second son, before completing the cadetship in July 2024. I have been working on this project as a site engineer since.

What is an average day like for you?

I arrive at work at 7am, ahead of our pre-start meeting and Toolbox, which is a daily safety briefing where we talk about the tasks ahead for the day and week and address any equipment we need, any safety requirements, and any risks to be aware of before we start.

I then usually prepare the paperwork (plans and permits) and brief the team on any key tasks. From here I monitor the site, checking on work every 2 or so hours, sometimes more frequently depending on the work being carried out.

After work it’s straight into mum mode before switching into some study to upgrade my Diploma to a Degree in Civil Engineering.

What is the hardest aspect of your job?

Effectively using resources to get the job done within the required timeframe, so the next team can continue with the next step. It requires close coordination with each team to make sure everything happens on time – and things don’t always go to plan!

What do you enjoy most about your job?

The team work here is great. I receive lots of support - when I need a hand, there is always a teammate happy to help. I also enjoy the variety – I get to experience a lot of different types of work – stormwater, wastewater, pavement etc. This variety enables me to gain the experience I need quickly.

In brief on SH29 works

• SH29 Tauriko, between Redwood Lane and Cambridge Road: Tauriko Enabling Works project construction is ongoing at multiple sites, with shoulder closures, temporary speed limits and mobile operations in place. At the Takitimu Drive Roundabout, the slip lane from SH29 to Takitimu Drive Toll Road will be closed until mid-April during off-peak hours, 9am - 4pm, while fill materials are carted into a future wetland area. Traffic will be able to join Takitimu Drive Toll Road from the roundabout.
• SH29 Takitimu Drive Toll Road: Ongoing works in this area for the Takitimu North Link project include the construction of a flyover bridge and southbound slip lane. A reduced speed limit of 70km/h remains in place while crews are working behind the barriers. Traffic is anticipated to be diverted onto the flyover bridge and southbound slip lane in late 2025 while works continue.  
• SH29 Valley View Road, Kaimai Range: Until late May, temporary traffic management is in place, with a closure of the passing lane at Valley View Road, lane shifts and a temporary 50km/h and 30km/h speed limit through the work site. This is to enable drainage maintenance and road resurfacing work to take place. This work will be completed during the day and at night. Traffic management will remain 24/7. All lanes will be open over the weekend.

Meanwhile on the Waikato side of SH29…

• SH1/SH29, Piarere: Road users can now enjoy a more complete roundabout experience in Piarere, with the final permanent approach road towards Hamilton open. The project is on track to be completed in mid-2025, but there is still work to be done. Work continues on the central median and barriers on the Hamilton approach, before the focus shifts to landscaping and planting. More information.

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