Tauriko Enabling Works

Project update

11 November 2024

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 are progressing this programme of work to improve safety and enable development in and around Tauriko.

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:

• where we’re at and what's next
• noise and vibration
• other projects in the area, including:
• Tauriko West Road of National Significance
• SH29 summer maintenance work.

Construction is in full swing at the SH29/Redwood Lane roundabout site. The white concrete structure is the pedestrian and cyclist underpass.

Construction snapshot

Work continues to ramp up at Redwood Lane while further north the team has established themselves in the Tauriko Village and Cambridge Road area.

At Redwood Lane, we've prepared the foundation for the new road, north of Redwood Lane and west of the current SH29. The next step is to begin work on the road surface, marking an exciting milestone as all the hard work starts to take shape. However, we’re mindful this phase of construction can see an increase in noise and vibration for project neighbours – you can read more on this below.

The team has recently completed a noise wall on the southern side of Redwood Lane to help protect nearby properties from road noise, along with laying the powerlines underground where the new roundabout will be.

Fifteen (out of 21) pre-cast concrete structures, which will form an underpass for pedestrians and cyclists, have been craned into place (pictured above). The underpass will run beneath SH29, linking Tauriko Business Estate with Redwood Lane and the future housing area.

Further north at Tauriko Village, the team widened the shoulder on the eastern side of Cambridge Road which involved installing drainage and applying temporary asphalt. This temporary shoulder widening is to provide the additional space necessary for machinery and the team to start work on a retaining wall on the western side of Cambridge Road. The retaining wall is a key step in ensuring the road is safe and stable to accommodate increased traffic in the future.

Work is underway behind the former service station at Tauriko Village where the team has been:

• clearing kiwifruit paddocks to make way for a new, safer car park for Tauriko School,

• removing an old, dilapidated house, and

• working to remove the service station fuel tanks, any contaminated soil to an approved disposal site and the canopy.

On the adjoining site, Tauranga City Council has completed the removal of the Tauriko Settlers Hall, which was no longer fit for purpose. Site remediation is in progress. The hall is planned to be replaced in the future by a new community centre and library in the Tauriko West development.

These works are the beginning of a new, wider and much safer passageway on SH29 through Tauriko Village for motorists as well as pedestrians and cyclists.

The next stage of this project involves removing an old packhouse south of the service station to make way for the new road which will link to the future school car park and later on the new Tauriko West community.

View the animated flythrough to see what the upgrades will look like once completed.

Vibratory rollers at work compacting the surface on the Tauriko Enabling Works project.

Noise and vibration

The arrival of spring means we’re now at a stage where we’re able to use heavy machinery, including excavators, graders, bulldozers, static rollers, and vibratory rollers (pictured above), to build the various layers of the road (read more on pavement layers below).

Some of these machines use vibration to help create a strong road foundation. While vibration and noise levels remain under our consented limits, we understand it may be felt more frequently by our project neighbours.

During the current stage of construction, vibratory rollers will be the most noticeable machinery because of the noise and vibration associated with using them. Vibratory rollers work by using both vibration and weight to compact surfaces. The vibration is generated by rotating weights, increasing the density of the material being compacted. They’re essential for compacting materials like soil, asphalt, and gravel to ensure the road surface is safe and durable.

The construction team would like to extend a special thank you to the project neighbours who have shown patience and understanding while these important upgrades are underway.

We continue to carefully monitor the vibration limits as per our consent to carry out this work, however if you are concerned about vibration or noise related to the project, contact us 0800 262 729 or taurikowest@downer.co.nz.

You can also read more on how we manage the impacts of noise and vibration here.

Many layers make a road

Each layer of road pavement plays a vital role in ensuring the road can withstand traffic loads, resist weather effects, and provide a safe driving surface. Proper design and construction are essential for the longevity and performance of the pavement.

The graphic below shows how these layers are built up to form a robust pavement.

Wearing course: This is the top layer of the pavement, typically made of asphalt or chipseal. It provides a smooth, skid-resistant surface for vehicles. It also protects the underlying layers from weather and traffic wear, ensuring longevity.

Basecourse: This layer is made of high-quality materials (often crushed stone or asphalt) and is placed above the subbase. It provides structural support and helps distribute traffic loads. It also contributes to the overall strength and durability of the pavement.

Subbase: This layer is placed on top of the subgrade and consists of granular materials (like gravel or crushed stone). It helps distribute loads from the pavement above and provides additional support. It also aids in drainage, preventing water accumulation that could weaken the subgrade.

Subgrade: This is the natural soil or rock layer that serves as the foundation for the pavement. It supports the weight of the pavement and traffic above. Provides stability and load-bearing capacity. Proper compaction and drainage are crucial to prevent settlement and deformation.

Other SH29 projects...

The Tauriko West project supports economic growth, productivity and housing development, improves safety, and provides a more resilient roading network.

Tauriko West Road of National Significance update

The Tauriko West project has been prioritised for delivery as 1 of the 15 Roads of National Significance and is confirmed in the 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP). This means we can now move forward into the next phases of the project which includes refining the scope of the project, designation and consenting.

To deliver on the Government Policy Statement on land transport 2024 (GPS 2024) priorities, the future Tauriko West improvements have been realigned to prioritise economic growth and productivity, particularly the movement of freight.

As a result of this work, the phasing for the project has changed. We’ll be moving towards constructing the new offline SH29, between Ōmanawa Road and Takitimu Drive Toll Road, ahead of the SH29A improvements between Takitimu Drive Toll Road and Barkes Corner.

The Tauriko West project will be completed in 4 phases:

1. Designation and consenting for SH29 and SH29A – so we’re ready to proceed when funding is made available and to protect the corridor from being built out in the upcoming development of the area (indicative timeframe 2023/24 to 2026).

2. 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). This work is underway already with geotechnical testing recently being completed.

3. SH29 offline – construction of the new 4-lane SH29 and revocation of the existing SH29 (timeframes will be confirmed through the investment case phase).

4. Widening existing SH29A – from Takitimu Drive Toll Road to Barkes Corner and a new grade-separated interchange at Barkes Corner (timeframes will be confirmed through the investment case phase).

More information on the project.

Maintenance to deliver smoother SH29 journeys

SH29 is a key focus of our summer maintenance programme.

Between now and May 2025 there are 9 significant sites on the Bay of Plenty side of the Kaimai Range where we’re rebuilding and resurfacing the road.

Once complete, drivers will have smoother and safer journeys along this section of the SH29 corridor.

To minimise impacts to traffic, most of the work is being carried out in the evening, between 7pm and 6am, on Sunday to Thursday nights (excluding public holidays) with stop/go in place.

Contractors got underway on Sunday 20 October with a road rebuild near Hanga Road (expected to be completed mid-November), followed by resurfacing work between Gargan Road and Redwood Lane (completed). The next site to get underway is near Old Kaimai Road, starting on Sunday 24 November.

Read more here and view the map below of the various sites.

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