6 June 2012

TEL – motorists advised to drive carefully on SH2 near Bruce Road and Kairua Road

Motorists are advised to drive carefully when travelling southbound along the Tauranga Eastern Link (TEL) construction area between Bruce Road and Kairua Road on State Highway 2, due to an uneven road surface.

The NZTA says the uneven road surface is the result of surcharge material being laid adjacent to the state highway to provide a base on which the new road will be constructed on.

NZTA Principal Project Manager, Andrew Scott says the weight of the surcharge and the associated settlement is causing cracks which are making the road surface (to this section of the highway) uneven.

“Initial repair work has been carried out; however more work is still required to manage the problem. We do anticipate that some cracking to sections of this road surface will be ongoing until the surcharge is removed in approximately 12 months time”.

A temporary speed restriction of 50km/h is in place along this section of State Highway 2 and minor delays maybe experienced. The speed restriction will be increased to 80km/h when repairs are completed.

The NZTA thanks motorists for their continued patience and assistance while this work is being undertaken.

Keep up-to-date with developments on the Tauranga Eastern Link at www.nzta.govt.nz/tel

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

ENDS

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