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Tauriko Enabling WorksProject update |
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5 August 2025 |
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Tēnā koe and welcome to the State Highway 29 (SH29) Tauriko Enabling Works project update. Work on the new roundabout at the intersection of SH29 and Redwood Lane continues, with the underpass and Kaweroa Drive connection both on track to open later this year/early next year. You can read more on this below, along with:
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) and Tauranga City Council (TCC) are progressing the Tauriko Enabling Works to improve safety and enable development in and around Tauriko. |
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Progress on the Kaweroa Drive connection to the new roundabout. Redwood LaneWork on the new roundabout at the intersection of SH29 and Redwood Lane continues, with the underpass and Kaweroa Drive connection both on track to open later this year/early next year (read more on the underpass below). The roundabout continues to operate under a temporary layout, with traffic sharing the new eastbound lanes leading into the roundabout, with one lane open in each direction on SH29. These 2 lanes will eventually serve traffic heading off the roundabout towards Tauranga, with work underway on the new westbound lanes, which will serve traffic heading towards Hamilton. The westbound lanes are taking shape, with concrete kerbs poured between Belk Road and Redwood Lane and paving underway. With the final layer of asphalt (wearing course) and permanent line marking taking place later in the year, this section of SH29 remains under temporary traffic management. Meanwhile the Kaweroa Drive connection to the roundabout is progressing well, with the kerbs now poured and asphalting completed. The Kaweroa Drive extension, accessed via the fourth leg directly opposite Redwood Lane, will provide access to the Tauriko Business Estate. |
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The new pedestrian/cyclist underpass is made up of 22 concrete structures bolted together. Completing the underpass puzzleThe installation of the final pre-cast concrete structures for the new pedestrian and cyclist underpass beneath the SH29/Redwood Lane roundabout is complete. A 130-tonne crane was used to place the final 7 of 22 concrete pieces, which were trucked in, craned into position and bolted together to form the final part of the underpass. They follow the 15 pieces installed in September last year, which formed the initial section. This new underpass is designed for cyclists and pedestrians, providing a safe and direct connection between Redwood Lane and Kaweroa Drive/Tauriko Business Estate without needing to cross the busy SH29. It’s a key safety feature and a vital link for the new Tauriko West community, supporting travel options now and into the future. |
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Work continues on the largest retaining wall of the project on Cambridge Road. Tauriko Village progressThe theme for the Tauriko Village section of works is retaining walls! There’s a total of 4 new retaining walls in the Tauriko Enabling Works project, 2 located on/near Cambridge Road and 2 in/near Tauriko Village. Due to the geography of the site, retaining walls are needed to stabilise the ground to allow for road widening. The team has been busy working on the large retaining wall to widen Cambridge Road since September last year, with construction progressing well in preparation for the new signalised intersection with SH29 further down the track. This is the largest retaining wall on the project and has required some complex engineering due to its location – alongside a very busy arterial route and a steep drop into farmland. All the preliminary work on the wall is now complete and the team has poured the first lot of concrete. Over the coming months, approximately 2,500 tonnes of concrete will be poured to construct the various elements of the retaining wall – that’s enough concrete to cover a basketball court with 1-metre-thick concrete! Meanwhile the team is underway with another retaining wall just west of Tauriko Village, with temporary sheet piling completed in early July. Sheet piling involves driving large metal posts (sheet piles) vertically into the ground to form a solid barrier and stabilise the ground. Sheet piling can be noisy for surrounding properties, and we would like to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you to our project neighbours who have been so patient and understanding throughout this process. We’re now underway with the required earthworks behind the sheet piles ahead of constructing the wall itself. The retaining wall will be built using interconnected blocks called MagnumStone. It will stretch 80 metres and consist of 16 rows of large interlocking concrete blocks. Thanks to the modular design of the blocks, they fit together easily, much like Lego bricks. The MagnumStone blocks are designed to look like real rocks, which gives the finished product great visual appeal. From start to finish, we expect it will take the team about 8 months to complete the wall, including installing the underground services, laying the blocks and backfilling the land level with SH29. Once completed, works will start to build the signalised intersection at Tauriko Village. |
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Infrastructure upgrades progressing wellAs well as the significant retaining wall works, the team has been busy completing some of the many infrastructure upgrades required on a project of this size. Among the more recent works has been preparation for laying powerlines underground along Cambridge Road and a section of SH29. This work is in preparation for the upgrade of the SH29/Cambridge Road intersection which will feature traffic signals and provide a new link into Whiore Avenue for buses, cyclists and pedestrians. Further west of the Tauriko Village on SH29, the team has upgraded power connections with new power poles, ducting and cables, and is busy upgrading the water mains along Gargan Road. Following the Gargan Road upgrades, the team will start working up the southern side of SH29 to complete water main upgrades throughout the length of the project. These upgrades are not only essential for the project but will help to futureproof this area by providing improved services to the community and future communities. |
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The very first plants of the project were planted at Tauriko School. Planting seasonAugust marks the final month of winter, signalling longer (and hopefully) drier days ahead. It’s also the start of planting season for construction projects. An impressive 243,000 plants and trees will be planted as part of the Tauriko Enabling Works project! From low-growing ground cover to taller shrubs and trees, including a mix of native varieties, planting is due to start in the wetland area on the western corner of the Redwood Lane roundabout area this month. Beyond providing a fresh, clean aesthetic, much of the landscaping serves a functional purpose. Plant roots help stabilise the soil, supporting long-term resilience, and many of the plants used in this project were specifically chosen for their ability to absorb stormwater and surface run-off. This not only protects the road's integrity and user safety but also helps prevent sediment-laden stormwater from flowing into the nearby Wairoa Awa (river), a waterway of great significance to local hapū and residents. Recently the team joined project neighbours, Tauriko School, for a World Environment Day planting session, planting the very first plants on the project in the new Tauriko School and Tauriko Playcentre carpark. More than 150 plants were put in, including native varieties which represent the school house groups , Kahikatea, Kauri, Rimu and Tōtara. FUN FACT: Each member of the landscaping team plants around 350 plants every day during planting season - that’s about 1,750 plants each, every week! |
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Drive to the conditionsDespite spring being on the horizon, the weather is still very volatile, and we’d like to remind drivers that during the changeable conditions of winter, we need to adjust our driving to keep ourselves and other people travelling safe. Weather during winter varies throughout the country and can often change fast. Be prepared for all conditions – from rain and fog through to frost, ice (and black ice) and, depending on where you are travelling, snow. The sun is lower in the sky so sunstrike can also be a factor to be mindful of – especially if we have been wiping our windscreen to clear it of condensation, which can also affect visibility. During this time of year when the weather is cooler and the rainfall is higher, you may notice more potholes and road defects. If you see us patching up the same areas, rest assured permanent repairs will be completed when the final asphalt surface is laid across the project. This also applies to the line marking, which will be tidied up at completion. To report an issue with the road surface, or other problem, you can call 0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 44 44 49). Please keep vigilant, drive to the conditions, and stay safe. |
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Meet the team – Ella, Civil Engineering CadetWhat is your role and how did you get into this career? As a Civil Engineering Cadet, I am studying towards a Civil Engineering Diploma part-time while working full-time. This means after a full day’s work it’s home to study! I do 2 papers a semester (4 a year) which involves me heading to block course once a month and completing assignments and tests during the semester. I left school at 18 and needed a job so applied for a Downer Traffic Controller (TC) job in my hometown, Taupō. I started in November 2021, and had only been a TC for a few weeks when I was given the opportunity to jump in with the sealing crew for summer in Taupō, so I took the leap and loved it. I was then offered a driver/operator position and worked for more than a year with a team responsible for maintaining the state highways in the central Waikato region. I worked snow shifts on the Desert Road and responded to callouts when the network was affected by crashes and storms etc. I started my cadetship in 2023 while continuing my maintenance rotation in Taupō. I have since completed other rotations including road science, bitumen plant, traffic management services, highway inspecting and am now in construction. What is an average day like for you? This is the first construction project I have worked on, and I am working as an engineer for wastewater and watermain works. An average day is attending the 7am toolbox meeting, making sure my crews know what the day’s plan is, and ensuring they have the necessary permits in place before work starts. I am also responsible for service locations such as power, gas, telecommunications, which we need to do at new job areas. This involves getting a Hydrovac truck on site to complete underground investigations. I organise permits as needed and ensure we are meeting our Quality Assurance (QA) requirements. I also liaise with the surveyor, communicate with the project designer and am currently being kept busy making construction work packs for the jobs happening on site, which contain key information for supervisors, tradespeople, and subcontractors to ensure the job is done safely, correctly, and efficiently. What is the hardest aspect of your job? Overall, I would say the studying side of the cadetship is the hardest. It can be hard to come home after a long day and sit down to study, especially when an exam is fast approaching. I’ve never been someone who wanted to study and have always struggled in exams, but here we are 3 years into studying! A way I overcome this challenge is to focus on the fact I am so close to the end of my study (I finish at the end of 2026). I also have good family/friends/team support around me, which provides motivation, and I try to make sure I maintain a work/life/study balance where possible. Sometimes, you just have to think of the reward at the end of the tunnel and smash through it. What do you enjoy most about your job? I enjoy how much I get to learn on the job and the opportunities and experiences I’ve been given along the way. Through all of my rotations since starting the cadetship, I have received so much support and encouragement. What’s one thing you wish members of the public knew, which would help to keep the roads and workers like yourself safe? Road workers are not trying to ruin your day. We all know road works cause delays and frustrations but most of us are out there in all weather, doing our job – maintaining the road, upgrading the road, or making roads safer for you. A wave, a smile, or some patience goes a long way. |
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An artist impression of SH29 Ōmanawa Bridge looking from Tauranga towards Hamilton. Ōmanawa Bridge replacement getting closer to constructionThe SH29 Ōmanawa Bridge replacement achieved some major milestones in recent months. We’ve completed the detailed design which confirms bridge features, minor intersection upgrades and how we tie the new bridge into the existing state highway. This project is part of the Tauriko West Road of National Significance project and will improve safety and make the state highway more reliable and resilient. We’ve received approval of our statutory consents and undertaken archaeological clearance work. We’re currently in the tender process for our construction contractor with construction of the new bridge expected to begin late 2025 and anticipated to take around 2 years to complete. New Ōmanawa Bridge features:
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Artist impression of the SH29/Ōmanawa Road intersection upgrades looking from Hamilton towards Tauranga. SH29 Ōmanawa Road intersection upgradesAs part of the bridge replacement project, we’re making minor upgrades to the Ōmanawa Road and SH29 intersection. This includes realigning the state highway with the new Ōmanawa Bridge, making turning movements safer and improving visibility. In the future, more extensive upgrades are proposed as part of the new SH29 Tauriko West Road of National Significance project. As part of the minor intersection upgrades we’re:
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Taurikura Drive upgrade tracking wellTauranga City Council’s project to upgrade Taurikura Drive in support of expansion in Tauriko is progressing well with some significant milestones already reached. The roundabout at the Tauranga Crossing main entry/exit has been removed and work to establish a signalised intersection in its place is ongoing. Works on the footpath areas outside Tauranga Crossing and central median on Taurikura Drive is continuing and traffic management remains in place. It’s expected the bulk of construction will be complete by late 2025, at which stage most of the traffic management along Taurikura Drive and the SH36 roundabout will be removed. Some traffic management will remain on Taurikura Drive into 2026 for minor finishing works to be completed such as landscaping. This upgrade will support expansion in Tauriko across both residential and industrial levels, with additional lanes, new bus stop bays and shared walk and cycle pathways, which will connect with the improvements along Whiore Avenue being delivered by the Tauriko Enabling Works project. More information about this work can be found here. |
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Have your say on the proposal for a second toll point for Tauranga Eastern Link Toll RoadWhat do you think of the proposal to add a second toll point on the State Highway 2 (SH2) Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road? NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) wants you to have your say. Public consultation is now live and runs through to 5pm Thursday 28 August 2025.
We’re proposing to add another toll point between Domain Road Interchange and Pāpāmoa East Interchange. People travelling this distance would pay a lower toll price to reflect the shorter distance travelled. The proposed prices being consulted on are: Vehicles travelling the full length of the Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road, between Domain Road Interchange and Paengaroa Roundabout, would continue to pay current toll prices $2.30 for light vehicles and $5.60 for heavy vehicles. As a reminder, we use tolling revenue to pay the debt borrowed to build the road. We’ll summarise your feedback and share it with the Minister of Transport to provide insight into the level of community support for the tolling proposal. The Minister will then make a decision on the proposal. Submit your feedback on our website: nzta.govt.nz/teltolling Feedback closes at 5pm on 28 August 2025. |
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In brief:Tree felling near Ōmanawa Bridge: People travelling on SH29 between Tauriko and the power station at Ruahihi can expect minor delays this Wednesday 6 August between 10am and 12 noon to allow for tree-felling near the Ōmanawa Bridge. Traffic will be slowed through this area as trees are being cut down and once safely on the ground vehicles will be allowed past. People are asked to drive with care while this work is done. This is preparatory work for the replacement of the Ōmanawa Bridge. SH1/SH29 Piarere intersection: With the bulk of the work on the new SH1/29 roundabout in Piarere now complete, the reduced speed limit of 60km/h has been lifted to 100km/h. People will continue to see activity over the next few weeks, including landscaping, which will require intermittent shoulder closures. The project is on track to be completed in late August. More information. |
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More information |
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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 |
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