Re: Traffic woes at Omokoroa and State Highway 2 and Te Puna's new roundabout.
This one isn't going away.

I don't believe roundabouts will alleviate the growing traffic problems. They won't get cars off the road. And $5.25million for one roundabout?

Was that the cheapest tender? Double that if Omokoroa gets one. I guess that includes the temporary roads to divert traffic while the roundabouts are being constructed. What happens to these temporary roads when roundabouts are completed?

We don't need roundabouts. We need ‘either' another road into Tauranga bypassing or going over the top of Bethlehem, where the problem lies with two roundabouts and two sets of traffic lights in the town ‘or' my personal choice, a passenger train service on an existing train line, which would get a lot of cars off the road. A peak periods passenger service could be used between freight services.

Imagine a relaxed journey, no traffic or parking problems, compared to a frustrating crawl where you arrive at work angry and tense. With SH2 the only way into Tauranga from Waihi/KatiKati if there is a major accident everybody is screwed.

With an additional 200-plus ‘low cost' homes proposed between the highway and Settlers Hall, Omokoroa, there will be anything up to 400-plus more cars on the highway if both parents go to work and more if their teenage students drive cars to school.

There are several housing projects in Kayelene Place, Lynley Park and Margaret Drive. Subdivisions are expanding and another housing project in Omokoroa Rd would add yet more cars to the equation.

If something isn't done and fast, families won't buy homes in Omokoroa because of the traffic problems. As it is some families are already selling their new homes.

S Gussey Omokoroa