Tauriko Enabling Works

Tēnā koe and welcome to the construction update for the SH29 Tauriko Enabling Works project. This update provides an overview of what’s happened and what’s coming up for the project.

In this edition, you can read about:

• where we are at and what's next
• guardrails and barrier installation at SH29/Redwood Lane
• bats/pekapeka monitoring
• archaeologist and kaitiaki preserving the past for future generations to come.

Artist impression: New SH29/Redwood Lane roundabout

Works progressing on SH29 Tauriko Enabling Works project

Downer was awarded the construction contract for the Tauriko Enabling Works in February 2024 and have progressed ecological and environmental investigations, vegetation clearance as well as site establishment since. Archaeologists, ecologists, kaitiaki (cultural monitors) and other members of our site crew have been working together and will continue setting up monitors and installing environmental controls, ensuring the preservation of any historic sites, artefacts and wildlife.

You will see our team – in high visibility clothing – at various times out and about in the Redwood Lane and Belk Road area in coming months as works get underway at the Redwood Lane end of the project.

Some of the essential preparation work undertaken includes:

• Areas of archaeological interest to be investigated.
• Lizard, skink and bat monitoring.
• Site access points have been installed to allow for the use of construction vehicles and materials for bulk fill will be stockpiled at Redwood Lane.
• Utility services such as power and water will be relocated in preparation for construction. Direct notification will be provided to any affected residents.

Work is underway to prepare the site for storing material and the site office.

Construction snapshot: Where we are at

• In mid-March, the Downer team began site establishment works at Redwood Lane to get everything in place for construction to start at the SH29/Redwood Lane roundabout. This includes setting up site access and lay-down areas for storing materials, machinery, and vehicles, relocating site offices, and constructing sediment ponds. The sediment pond is designed to capture and treat sediment-laden water from the site and treat it prior to discharging into the environment.
• Work is also progressing with vegetation clearance taking place on Redwood Lane and on SH29 between Belk Road and 1013 SH29, to create the space required for the new roundabout. We’re only removing vegetation that can’t remain due to site requirements. This includes shelter belts, a stand of bamboo and one large poplar tree on SH29 as well as a kiwifruit orchard on the corner of Redwood Lane and SH29.

The site being prepared for the new SH29/Redwood Lane roundabout.

What's next

In the coming months you will see the site taking shape as the site establishment works and vegetation clearance is completed.
Construction activities will begin with:

• a noise wall at a neighbouring property on Redwood Lane which will assist in reducing noise disturbance during the construction phase and from traffic once the roundabout is constructed,
• installation of environmental controls including stormwater retention ponds and silt fencing, and
• the removal and undergrounding of existing services, including overhead power lines and telecommunication infrastructure to allow for the construction of the new roundabout.

Guardrails and barriers to be installed at SH29/Redwood Lane

Safety is paramount, especially on a busy highway like SH29, and we will be installing guardrails and barriers on both sides of SH29 near Redwood Lane and Belk Road. They will clearly outline the construction area, and require minor maintenance, which means less disruption to traffic flow over the course of the construction period for the SH29/Redwood Lane works. This approach allows us to minimise the use of road cones while still ensuring the safety of road users and crew and keeping traffic flowing.

Overnight works to install guardrail and barriers

To minimise disruption to the community, work to install the semi-permanent guardrails and barriers has been programmed to take place at night, and during the planned SH29 Kaimai Range resealing closure.

From Sunday 19 May to Thursday 23 May, from approximately 8pm to 5am each night, there will be stop/go in place and a temporary speed limit of 30km/h on SH29 (between south of Belk Road and north of Redwood Lane), and on Redwood Lane and Belk Road at the intersection with SH29. Access to Redwood Lane and Belk Road will remain open for the duration of the works. This work is weather dependent and only minor delays are expected due to reduced traffic over the Kaimai Range.

Semi-permanent traffic management from late May

Once the guardrail and barriers are installed:

• A temporary 70km/h speed limit will be in place at all times. The only exception to this will be if night works are necessary, and these will be notified in advance.
• Access in and out of Redwood Lane will remain available. The left turn slip lanes into Redwood Lane and Belk Road will be closed, the right turn bay into Redwood Lane will remain open.
• One lane in each direction will be available at all times. SH29 shoulders will be closed, and the lanes will operate at a reduced width.
• Less than minor traffic delays are expected for SH29 traffic and minor delays for Redwood Lane traffic.

People are asked to drive with extra care through the SH29/Redwood Lane and Belk Road area, while people adjust to the new traffic management.

Temporary traffic management ensures the safety of all road users, the community, and our teams. People travelling are asked to allow for extra time, follow the instructions provided by our on-site team members and adhere to all temporary signage.

Bat detectors in place as part of the environmental controls

Bats/pekapeka monitoring successfully completed

As part of our commitment to environmental stewardship and protection of native wildlife, we have monitored long-tailed bats (pekapeka) in the Tauriko Enabling Works project area.

Long-tailed bats are a vital component of New Zealand's ecosystem, being one of only 2 species of bats native to our country and our sole native land mammal. Given their significance, our project team has been monitoring the Tauriko area for several years.

How do we monitor for bats? Long-tailed bats, like many other bat species, use echolocation, a form of sonar, to navigate, orientate and forage. These echolocation calls are typically ultrasonic, meaning they occur at frequencies higher than those detectable by the human ear. To detect these calls, we employ bat detectors, which transform the ultrasonic signals into audible clicks that we can monitor.

To date, our monitoring has not detected any long-tailed bat activity on or near the project site. We have also not recorded any "bat passes," which are series of audible clicks indicating the presence of bats flying into and out of range.
With archaeological and environmental measures completed, vegetation and tree clearance has started.

Kaitiaki overseeing the archaeology work to uncover pits

Archaeologist and kaitiaki preserving the past for future generations to come

The area where the new roundabout will be built is known to be historically significant, so the work on the road is being done under an archaeological authority from Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga. Archaeologists and kaitiaki (cultural monitors) play a crucial role in identifying locations of interest and potential discoveries that may hold cultural or archaeological significance. Before any works that disturb the ground can commence, our project archaeologist conducts thorough site investigations and ground-penetrating scanning.

Together with the archaeologist, kaitiaki from local hapū Ngai Tamarawaho, Ngāti Kahu and Ngāti Hangarau, are onsite when ground disturbance work starts. These cultural monitors play a vital role in collaborating with our construction team to identify changes in soil structure and evidence of archaeology, such as midden pits, food storage pits and Māori artifacts.

To date, several food storage pits have been discovered. Archaeologists have excavated the pits by hand, photographed and recorded the findings which will be included in the final technical report to Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga, a legal condition of the archaeological authority for this project. While it is too early to date the storage pits, there will be analyses of the samples and technical reporting completed. These findings underscore the rich cultural heritage of the area and highlight the importance of our ongoing commitment to cultural and archaeological stewardship.

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 www.nzta.govt.nz/tauriko-enabling-works