8 May 2018

Project aiming to reduce travel times on State Highway 2 in Tauranga to be trialled

The NZ Transport Agency and Western Bay of Plenty District Council are carrying out a two-week trial to see if delays can be reduced for people using State Highway 2 near Te Puna.

The trial will be carried out between Clarke Road and Te Puna Station Road on weekdays from Monday 14 May to Friday 25 May 2018.

Solutions that are being trialled include removing the right-turn into Te Puna Station Road from SH 2, speed reductions on Te Puna Station Road and closing Te Puna Station Road from Clarke Road. People will access SH 2 from Clarke Road or Te Puna Road.

The trial results will be assessed and more permanent options may be implemented.

Transport Agency Bay of Plenty Journey Manager, Nigel D’Ath, says the changes should reduce the number of people using the side roads and will hopefully lead to improved and more consistent travel time.

“We will have people on site monitoring this trial and if queues become too long it will be removed.

“The results will be analysed and we will be in contact with the community again to let them know the outcome,” Mr D’Ath says.

Traffic volumes and travel time data were collected in late 2017 while Te Puna Station Road was closed for slip repairs and again when the road was re-opened. The data indicated some minor reduction in travel time on State Highway 2 when Te Puna Station Road was closed. However a more in-depth trial needs to be undertaken during the school term.

The trial is classified as a minor improvement.

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