Tauriko Enabling Works

Project update

28 February 2025

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

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.

If you regularly drive along SH29 through Tauriko, you may have noticed the first months of the year have brought about significant changes through the Cambridge Road and Tauriko Village sections of works. 

This update provides an overview of what’s happened and what’s coming up for the project, including other work along SH29.

You can read about:

• Progress at Cambridge Road, Tauriko Village and Redwood Lane
• Fish relocation at Belk Road
• Team member, Jaden Hohepa (engineering cadet)
• Ōmanawa Bridge replacement investigations
• SH29 maintenance work.

Cambridge Road and SH29 intersection, seen from Cambridge Road. To the right, we’ve created a haul road for machinery and to allow for construction of the new retaining wall.

Progress at Cambridge Road intersection

We’ve successfully installed sheet piles on Cambridge Road and reopened the closed lane in late January, ahead of schedule. Thank you to everyone travelling through the area and/or living close by for your patience during these disruptive works.

Building the new signalised SH29/Cambridge Road intersection requires careful sequencing to keep traffic flowing through a busy work site, and our crews safe while undertaking these works. Now the sheet piles are installed, we’re working full steam on the major retaining wall which is required to widen Cambridge Road on the western side. Traffic barriers have been installed along SH29 providing safe separation from the construction works for the new road and retaining wall.

We'll also start widening sections of SH29 – 1 side of the state highway at a time to keep traffic flowing – from about April/May. Once the retaining wall and widening of SH29 are complete, we can start constructing the new signalised Cambridge Road and SH29 intersection itself. This will be carefully sequenced to minimise disruption, with the intersection expected to be completed in early 2027.

The new intersection will feature traffic lights and extra lanes of traffic leading in and through the intersection, including a new access to Whiore Avenue for buses and people walking and cycling.

Work on Whiore Avenue is scheduled to start in April 2025, with investigations underway to confirm the location of the underground services before we start on installing the wastewater drainage.

Part of this work involves constructing a new footpath on the southern side of Whiore Ave.

Artist impression of the new SH29/Cambridge Road intersection (looking towards Tauranga) including the bus and walking and cycling connection at Whiore Ave (right hand side).

Work is underway on the northern access road which will provide access to the new Tauriko School carpark.

Building a new access at Tauriko Village

We’ve also made significant progress in the Tauriko Village section where earthworks, pavement and utilities work continue for the new northern access road and the new Tauriko School and Playcentre carpark.

The team is currently building a new road off SH29, just south of the former service station. This road will be the northern access road to the planned future community in Tauriko West, also providing access to the new school carpark, and will have traffic signals. We expect this road and the carpark to open in late April 2025, with a temporary intersection providing safe access from SH29.

Before the final and permanent traffic signals can be installed, major upgrades will take place on stormwater, wastewater, and other underground services, along with the widening of SH29 to provide additional lanes and a new shared path on the school side of Tauriko Village down to Cambridge Road.

These upgrades allow for future population growth as well as safer access for the Tauriko School and Playcentre community. 

Check out the latest fly through video of this section below, with commentary from Daniel Barnard, Engineering Cadet at Downer.

The first stages of fish relocation in the tributary to the Wairoa River near the Belk Road intersection.

Fish on the move at Belk Road

Further south at the Redwood Lane section of works, the project team has been working with ecologists capturing and relocating native fish ahead of culvert extension works near the Belk Road intersection. 

Relocating fish is a key step in protecting our native species during construction works near streams. As part of the project, we’re extending 2 culverts beneath SH29 to ensure waterways remain protected throughout construction and the completion of the new road.

Over 4 nights, the team collected fish in a tributary of the Wairoa Awa (river) by installing fish exclusion barriers upstream and downstream of the works area, using nets to catch any fish in the water. 

More than 300 native fish were successfully captured and relocated downstream of the works, including short fin eels, and inanga (an at-risk, declining species of native fish).

Following trapping, the team dammed and dewatered the works area, leaving roughly 100mm to 200mm of water in the stream to make it easier to trap any remaining fish. 

An excavator then removed the sediment on the base and banks of the stream, which the site team and ecologists sifted through for any further fish.

The first permanent signs have been installed at the Tauranga-side tie-in to the new Redwood Lane roundabout.

Redwood Lane roundabout taking shape

Recently the team completed successful night shifts to carry out shoulder widening and relocating safety barrier and underground services, as well as preparations at the SH29 and Redwood Lane intersection for upcoming asphalt paving to be completed in March. 

Streetlights have also been installed near Redwood Lane and the cement stabilisation layers for the new Redwood Lane and roundabout have been completed. Cement stabilisation is a process that strengthens the road by mixing cement into sub-grade (foundation) material. This process helps to improve load bearing and resistance to water damage. 

There has also been a large amount of work on the gas mains running beneath SH29, near the Belk Road intersection, to ensure the gas line stays protected from construction and the upcoming new road layout.

People travelling through the area can expect to drive through the new roundabout in late April/early May, with the Kaweroa Drive extension off the roundabout set to open later in the year.

Check out the latest fly through video of this section below, with commentary from Jaden Hohepa, Engineering Cadet at Downer, who you can also read more about further down. 

Meet The Team – Jaden Hohepa, Engineering Cadet

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

I tried a few different jobs before I ended up in construction. I tried building for a while, worked in a butchery, and painted cars. A friend’s dad was starting an earthworks company with 5 people, and I was 1 of them. I guess that’s when I began this journey.

I started out in earthworks and construction and worked my way up from a labourer to operator, and then foreman over the past 10 years. I wanted to continue to learn. I came through excavation and being a foreman, but I wanted to continue learning engineering and learn the other side of the business too.

What is an average day like for you?

My day involves a bit of everything, I arrive at work at 6.45am, 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.

Then, I usually go into the office to line up what I need for the day, to see whether I need a checklist, or if I am out inspecting things on site. Some of my job involves organising the permits that need to be issued before work begins. There can be lots of paperwork and liaising with the crew on the ground to make sure they have all the resources and equipment they need ahead of each task. I also take care of inductions on site. Every person working on the site needs to be inducted, which is when all the risks are explained and understood, to help mitigate them.

So, it’s a lot of ensuring rules and regulations are being followed properly. I am also on the Health and Safety Committee, which is where we discuss any safety issues that emerge or could emerge to help prevent any incidents. Our industry has a lot of risks involved so we do everything we can do highlight these before anything becomes a problem.

I’m also the BBQ guy if we have a special occasion!

What is the hardest aspect of your job?

Understanding all the different aspects of being an engineer from Quality Assurance to inspections and checking things. There’s such a wide range of things we need to be across. 

What do you enjoy most about your job?

The opportunities to be able to do more. It’s not just the ability to get stuck into one thing and do it, you’re able to be involved right across the project so there is variety. Also being able to learn how this side of the business works, expanding my knowledge, and furthering my career.

Farewell Trelise

The Tauriko Enabling Works team has recently farewelled Trelise Bidois.

Trelise joined the project for 9 weeks on a summer internship through Toi Ki Tua, which aims to increase the participation of Māori into higher-skilled career pathways across the Bay of Plenty’s high-growth industries.

Trelise spent her time working in the project’s communications team where she made a valuable contribution. The crew wishes her all the best for her bright future.

Geo-technical investigations underway for the Ōmanawa Bridge replacement.

Ōmanawa Bridge replacement investigations underway

We’re currently undertaking the last round of geo-technical investigations to inform the detailed design for the new Ōmanawa Bridge and the new road alignment. Understanding the ground conditions is a critical part of the project goes and reduces risks throughout the construction phase. 

Most of the borehole drilling is complete and we’re undertaking the last boreholes between the Ōmanawa Bridge and the Ōmanawa Road intersection in early March. These will take place at night to minimise disruption to traffic. From Monday 3 until Thursday 6 March, 6pm to 6am each night, a temporary 50km/h speed limit and lane shifts will be in place. 

We’re currently in the detailed design phase and seeking statutory approvals for the works. The programme for construction is being developed, with the goal to move into the construction phase in late 2025, pending designation and consenting approvals. 

More information.

In brief on SH29 maintenance works

• SH29 and SH29 Takitimu Drive Toll Road: From 7pm Tuesday 25 February to 6am Friday 14 March crews will be resurfacing parts of SH29 from Cambridge Road down the hill towards the SH29/SH29A/SH36 Roundabout, as well as the start of Takitimu Drive. During weekends crews will start a bit earlier at 6pm. This work also requires a 1 night full closure, from 7pm Monday 3 March to 6am Tuesday 4 March. Traffic heading towards Tauranga will be detoured via Cambridge Road.
• SH29 Kaimai Range: The Kaimai Range will be closed overnight from Sunday 2 to Friday 7 March (4.30am) from 8pm to 4.30am to allow road resurfacing and maintenance to take place. The closure points on the western side of the Kaimai Range are at the SH29/SH24 and SH29/SH28 intersections and on the eastern side of the Kaimai Range at the SH29/Cambridge Road intersection. Detours are available for all vehicles southbound via Rotorua and northbound via SH2 Karangahake Gorge. Emergency services will have access at all times, residents can access their property from the relevant side of the closure.

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 now open. The project is on track to be completed in mid-2025, but there is still work to be done. Work will continue on the central median and barriers on the Hamilton approach, before the focus shifts to the installation of a centre sculpture, landscaping and planting. More information.
• SH29, Te Poi: SH29 will be closed in Te Poi, between Te Poi Road and Stopford Road, 24/7 for 2 weeks, from Monday 10 March for maintenance works. Traffic will be required to use alternate routes. Access will be available to residents or businesses within the closure. 

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