9 April 2013

Public opinion sought on long term solution for Maunganui-Girven and Te Maunga Intersections

A public open day will be held on Thursday 18 April at ASB Baypark Arena to gain feedback from the public on three shortlisted options identified by the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to improve congestion and safety at the Maunganui-Girven Road (MGI) and Te Maunga intersections.

NZTA’s Bay of Plenty state highways manager, Brett Gliddon says, investigations by the agency have identified that any improvement options undertaken at MGI will impact on the movement of traffic at the SH2 and SH29 intersection at Te Maunga.

“To ensure a safe and efficient design for the MGI intersection, our investigations to date have indicated that an improvement to the Te Maunga intersection - some 800 metres to the east – is needed and should be undertaken at the same time.”

Mr Gliddon says the agency has identified three potential options for further investigation. Before selecting a preferred option, the NZTA are keen to gain feedback from the public on the three shortlisted options.

“The project team will be available to explain and discuss the three options and want to hear the public views on the three design options. The last open day was very useful as there were things identified by the public that helped with our investigations.”

He says all three options include constructing flyovers, similar to Hewletts Road, and two of the options propose to move the existing railway track.

“There is a lot to think about and this is why it is important that people come along to the open day.”

The next steps for the project after the public open day will be to undertake assessments on the social, economic and environmental impacts of the three options to determine the overall preferred solution, he said.

Mr Gliddon says once a preferred option is selected (anticipated to be early 2014), a Notice of Requirement will be prepared for designating the land required for the project to be included in the city’s district plan.

The public open day will start at 3.00pm on Thursday 18 April at the ASB Baypark Arena (Suite 1) and will finish at 7.00pm.

For more information please visit www.nzta.govt.nz

ENDS

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