MEDIA RELEASE

29 November 2012

Tauranga Eastern Link Piling Crew Move On To Mangatawa

Having completed the first stage of piling for the Domain Road interchange, the piling crew have moved to the northwest and are now piling for the Mangatawa interchange as part of the NZ Transport Agency’s (NZTA) Tauranga Eastern Link project.

The Mangatawa interchange, which is located between Te Maunga and Bruce Road, will provide future access to Papamoa (via Sandhurst Drive) and to Mangatawa.

NZTA’s Bay of Plenty state highways manager, Brett Gliddon, says that the interchange will open to traffic at the completion of the project in 2016.

“A total of 40 piles will be driven into the ground, at different stages, to depths of up to 50 metres. The first stage is well underway at Abutment A. The crew will then move across to Abutment B.”

The piling crew are operating from 7.30am to 6.00pm Monday to Saturday. Nearby residents will experience some noise disturbance during this time.

Piling for the Kaituna River Bridge and East Coast Main Trunk Rail Bridge at Paengaroa is now complete.

Keep up-to-date with developments at www.nzta.govt.nz/tel.
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Editor’s notes

The four-lane Tauranga Eastern Link will run from Te Maunga (near Baypark Stadium) in Tauranga to the existing junction of State Highways 2 and 33 (the Rotorua and Whakatane highways) near Paengaroa. It will be made up of 17km of new road and an upgrade of six kilometres of existing highway. The new highway is expected to open to traffic in 2016.

The Government has identified seven essential state highway projects linked to New Zealand’s economic prosperity. Called the roads of national significance, or RoNS for short, the NZTA is charged with delivering this programme of state highway improvements within the next 10 years. The RoNS programme represents one of New Zealand’s biggest ever infrastructure investments and is a key part of the Government’s National Infrastructure Plan and Government’s Policy Statement for transport.

The seven RoNS projects are based around New Zealand's five largest population centres. The focus is on moving people and freight between and within these centres more safely and efficiently. Other RoNS may be added in future but currently from north to south the seven projects are: Puhoi to Wellsford - SH1, Completing the Western Ring Route, Auckland - SH16, SH18 and SH20, Victoria Park Tunnel, Auckland - SH1, Waikato Expressway - SH1, Tauranga Eastern Link - SH2, Wellington Northern Corridor - SH1, Christchurch Motorways. More information is available at www.nzta.govt.nz/rons

Find the latest transport news, information, and advice on our website:
www.nzta.govt.nz

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Mangatawa interchange piling - aerial view

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Mangatawa aerial

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Mangatawa cross section

ENDS

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