Tauriko West

1 April 2026

Tēnā koe and welcome to the SH29/SH29A Tauriko West update.

In this edition, you can read about:

• Tauriko Enabling Works (delivered in partnership with Tauranga City Council)
• Ōmanawa Bridge replacement project
• Tauriko West Road of National Significance project
• Maintenance activity along SH29
• And more!

Major stormwater works are set to get underway at the eastern end of SH29.

SH29 stormwater upgrades in next construction phase at Tauriko

Major stormwater and underground service upgrades are getting underway at the eastern end of State Highway 29 (SH29) as part of the Tauriko Enabling Works.

Work will be delivered in 3 stages, beginning with trenching across SH29, between Cambridge Road and the SH29/State Highway 36 (SH36) roundabout.

The westbound lane on SH29 (towards Hamilton) will be closed from 6pm, Wednesday 8 April to 6am, Monday 13 April, with the eastbound lane remaining open.

Drivers should allow an extra 5-10 minutes for travel via SH36, Paraone Koikoi Drive, Matakokiri Drive and Kaweroa Drive (see map below).

Cambridge Road will be entry via left turn only (via the detour route). Vehicles can still exit Cambridge Road by turning left or right.

To minimise disruption, these works have been scheduled during the school holidays when traffic volumes are lower. Crews will work 24/7, including the weekend, to complete the job as quickly as possible.

The second stage of works from mid-April will involve the installation of new stormwater pipes and catchpits. Shoulder closures and lane shifts will be in place along SH29 between Cambridge Road and the SH29/36 roundabout to keep traffic moving and minimise disruption. The slip lane to Takitimu Drive Toll Road will be closed daily from 9.30am to 4pm. Access to Takitimu Drive will remain available via the roundabout.

The third and final stage starting in early July will see the newly installed stormwater system connected to the wetland outlet. The slip lane to Takitimu Drive Toll Road will be closed 24/7 for 6 weeks, with all this work expected to be completed by mid-August.

Elsewhere in Tauriko Village, traffic will shift in mid-April onto the newly completed SH29 lanes on the northern side of the village, allowing construction to begin on the southern side.

Thank you for your patience while we complete these important upgrades.

The full Tauriko Enabling Works project, delivered in partnership with Tauranga City Council, is due for completion in 2027.

Check out the latest project flythrough for an overview of what's been achieved in 2026 so far. 

Progress on third project wetland

If you’ve driven through the SH29/SH36 roundabout recently, you may have noticed the construction activity in the paddock nearby. This work is the third constructed wetland being built as part of the Tauriko Enabling Works.

The team has made strong progress, placing 1,400 cubic metres of topsoil, 600 tonnes of rip rap rock, and 4,700 square metres of coconut matting. With these foundations now in place, the wetland will be ready for planting in the coming month.

Constructed wetlands are engineered systems designed to mimic the natural filtering functions of real wetlands. They provide a sustainable and effective way to treat stormwater runoff from urban and industrial areas.

The stormwater upgrades mentioned above will link into this wetland.

Strengthening the slopes at Ruahihi Bluffs

We’re progressing urgent resilience work on the Ruahihi Bluffs on SH29 in the Kaimai Range, near the Ruahihi Power Station.

The bulk of this work took place under a 5-night road closure in February, where roadworkers cleared large loose rocks and added strengthening and reinforcement along the bluffs.

During the closure, we were able to do some routine maintenance along the state highway. Roadworkers improved the asphalt and drainage, as well as upgraded the road markings and road surface at several sites.

Check out a video of the work achieved here.

Less disruptive works are now underway until late April, with crews continuing stabilisation measures under overnight stop/go traffic management and a reduced temporary speed limit.

This work makes the highway more resistant to slips and rockfalls and makes for a safer and more reliable stretch of road.

A coffer dam has been installed as part of the Ōmanawa Bridge construction.

Bridge supports taking shape at Ōmanawa

Work is well underway on both sides of the Ōmanawa River with crews preparing and strengthening the ground where the new Ōmanawa Bridge supports will be built.

On the eastern side (pictured above), a coffer dam has been installed to create a safe, dry environment while protecting the river environment. Ecologists and kaitiaki closely monitored the process, safely relocating eels and fish before the area was enclosed. The dam has since been filled with earth to form a stable platform for construction of the eastern bridge supports.

Activity is also progressing on the western side of the river, where teams are building up and reinforcing the ground for the future bridge foundations. Earlier in the project, 680 wick drains were installed to help the soil settle more quickly by drawing water out of the soil.

Across the wider site, work to form the foundation layers for the new road approaches is advancing well. Along the western alignment, around 36,000 cubic metres of pumice is being placed to raise the ground to the correct level. For context: an Olympic swimming pool holds about 2,000 cubic metres of water.

Work to build the new road from Ōmanawa Road to the new bridge.

Temporary changes coming to keep Ōmanawa Road intersection safe

Additional traffic management measures will be introduced on SH29 at the intersection of Ōmanawa Road to make it easier and safer for turning traffic as work proceeds on the Ōmanawa Bridge replacement project.

The additional measures are designed to make turning movements safer and to encourage drivers to stick to the temporary speed limit through the worksite.

With construction activity increasing and visibility changing as the new road alignment is built up, these temporary measures will help protect everyone travelling through the area as well as our crews on the ground.

To support safer movement at the intersection, the following improvements will be made:
• A clearly marked merge lane on SH29 for people turning right out of Ōmanawa Road.
• Removing right turns into Ōmanawa Road.
• Relocating the limit line on Ōmanawa Road to improve visibility.

The new layout includes a dedicated merge lane that helps people turning right out of Ōmanawa Road to join SH29 safely.

The Ōmanawa Road limit line will also be moved forward, giving drivers a clearer view of eastbound traffic and allowing them to cross one lane before merging safely with westbound vehicles.

Right turns into Ōmanawa Road will be temporarily stopped to create space for the merge lane and simplify traffic movements at the intersection. Drivers wanting to turn right into Ōmanawa Road will be able to use a short detour of approximately 3km (around 4 minutes) via the SH29/Redwood Lane roundabout.

To support safer speeds, larger speed limit signs, improved road markings and side islands will be installed to the west of the intersection to reinforce the temporary 50km/h speed limit.

These measures will be introduced over 3 nights, from Tuesday 7 April to Thursday 9 April, with stop/go and a reduced 30km/h speed limit in place between 7pm and 6am. Drivers are asked to take extra care. Works are weather dependent.

The changes are needed as work to build the new road from Ōmanawa Road to the new bridge will impact visibility for traffic turning at the intersection.

Once the project is completed, the new road will be higher than the existing state highway. This will improve visibility and safety at the intersection.

Over the next few weeks, there will be significant earthworks as large amounts of material are moved to raise the ground to the required height. Extra material is placed on top and left there for about 6 months, then removed. This helps the ground settle faster and creates a strong foundation for the new road.

While this work is underway, visibility of westbound traffic for people turning right out of Ōmanawa Road will be reduced.

The project team understands the community’s concerns about safety and access at this intersection. A range of options were considered, and the chosen approach provides the best balance between safety and keeping traffic moving for both local drivers and state highway users.

We’ll continue to monitor traffic and driver behaviour along this section of road and thank everyone for their patience as we carry out this important work to improve safety and resilience on the state highway.

Meet the team: Nick, Tauriko Enabling Works Construction Manager, Downer

Behind the progress taking shape across Tauriko Village is a dedicated team managing a complex and fast moving construction programme. At the helm is Nick, Construction Manager for the Tauriko Village section of the Tauriko Enabling Works.

Nick’s pathway into infrastructure was paved with a passion for engineering and a desire to see projects make a lasting difference.

“I studied Engineering at university and have worked in construction ever since,” Nick says. “I started out in vertical builds before moving into horizontal construction and infrastructure projects, which I find far more satisfying due to their scale, complexity, and the tangible impact they have on communities.”

As Construction Manager, Nick is responsible for keeping all aspects of the programme moving in unison - and no 2 days look alike.

“It really depends on the phase of the project,” he explains.

“During active construction, I usually start with a site walk to assess progress and get briefed by the team on any issues or constraints.”

From there, the day becomes a balance of operational and strategic work: problem solving, responding to correspondence, planning upcoming works, reviewing progress and costs, and liaising closely with designers and the client.

“It’s a mix of hands on oversight and forward planning to keep everything aligned,” Nick says.

With responsibility comes challenge - particularly on a project of this scale.

“Ultimately, I’m accountable for safety, quality, programme, cost, and resourcing,” Nick says. “Staying across everything can be tough - it requires constant awareness and coordination.”

Despite the challenges, it’s seeing the pieces come together that makes the role worthwhile.

“Seeing a complex build come together is incredibly rewarding,” Nick says. “When all the detailed planning pays off and the team overcomes the inevitable challenges, it’s a great feeling.”

Recent highlights include installing 12 metre sheet piles alongside SH29 during daytime traffic and rebuilding the SH29/Cambridge Road intersection in just 4 weeks - a significant achievement given the scale and constraints of the work.

Working beside live traffic comes with risks, and Nick has a clear message for the public.

“We work hard to minimise disruption, but some delays are unavoidable. Patience from road users makes a huge difference.”

With crews operating close to live lanes, safety remains paramount.

“For everyone’s safety - yours and ours - please stick as closely as possible to the posted temporary speed limit.”

Tauriko West archaeologists inspire next generation

Matthew and Emma, both archaeologists undertaking work for the Tauriko West project, recently visited the Year 7 and 8 Tall Poppies class at Tauriko School to share their knowledge and experiences of a career in archaeology.

Both work in the field and have been involved in archaeological investigations connected to the development of Tauriko West and the surrounding Tauriko Business Estate. Their visit gave students a fascinating insight into how archaeologists study the past and the kinds of discoveries that can be made when land is prepared for new roads and buildings.

Matthew, who has worked in the area for many years, explained that archaeology is not always about dramatic treasures and more about finding everyday traces of past life, such as objects and places that help tell the story of how people lived. He shared discoveries from Tauriko, including numerous underground kūmara storage pits that show the area was once an important Māori food-growing and living landscape, with gardening, food storage, and settlements likely dating back several centuries.

The Tall Poppies students were excited to hear about real archaeological work closer to home – in their own community. The visit helped students see archaeology as a way of understanding how people lived, reminding them history lies just beneath our feet and even ordinary objects can reveal powerful stories about the past.

“I like how Matthew shared about finding the kūmara pits, and the shell middens were also interesting.” Ayla

“It was interesting when Matthew told us about the things they would find from long ago.” Siri

Read the full article.

Takitimu Drive exit to Fifteenth Ave closed

The exit from SH29/Takitimu Drive Toll Road on to Fifteenth Ave is closed through to late-April 2026 to progress road widening to allow construction of new lanes as part of the Takitimu North link project. 

For the duration of the works, traffic moves onto temporary lanes allowing SH29 and SH2 traffic to travel northbound onto SH2 Takitimu Drive, however traffic from SH29 to Fifteenth Ave is detoured via SH2 Takitimu Drive to Elizabeth Street. SH2 traffic can still travel to Fifteenth Ave.

Please follow the temporary speed limit signs and directions for these layout changes.

View the map.

More information

For more information on the Tauriko West project, contact us at bopprojects@nzta.govt.nz

Visit our website nzta.govt.nz/tauriko-west