The official opening of the Grenada Street link this morning now offers a long awaited third option for Papamoa and Mount Maunganui commuters.
Mayor Stuart Crosby officiated with councillors and neighbours appearing for the occasion and the walk-through before it was opened to traffic.
The missing link is open to traffic. Photo: Steve Morris/Facebook
The opening of the 400m section of street means for the first time commuters can drive from Bayfair to Evans Road without going onto State Highway 2 or Maranui Street.
Construction of the link began in May after the Sandhurst Drive access onto the Tauranga Eastern Link opened. The lack of the link has been blamed for causing severe daily congestion along Maranui Street.
'The road completion is wonderful news for our village residents as well as for anyone travelling the route. Traffic jams can cause driver frustration and can result in accidents at intersections,” says Pacific Coast Village's managing partner, Graham Wilkinson. Pacific Coast is on Grenada Street adjacent to the link.
Tauranga City Council transportation manager Martin Parkes says the remaining unlinked through road is Gloucester Road, but there are no plans to join it up at present.
The new Grenada Street link will take the pressure off Papamoa Beach Road and give people other options. It's a link council have wanted to build for a considerable period of time, he adds.
"As the area develops then we would like to get a further link across there, that's the ultimate plan. We work with the land owners and as the land owners want to develop the area, we will put a road through,” says Martin.
'The links that are currently there have made a big difference to the way people travel around there. And once we have got the Grenada Street link constructed that will be further options for people to use.
'It helps spread the traffic load around that area, so if there's an incident on one part of the network there are other options for people to use.”
The contractors are All About Construction. Construction of the Grenada Street link cost $828,998.85.
3 comments
lol
Posted on 27-07-2016 10:29 | By Capt_Kaveman
Martin Parkes - It's a link council have wanted to build for a considerable period of time - what a lot of garbage, its taken how long ?? funny how people try in steal the opportunity
Wrong option
Posted on 27-07-2016 14:39 | By Gigilo
There goes the neighbourhood on the up side we announce a new congestion route. The plan was upside down was to be Gloucester Road. Announcing a new set of traffic lights at the Gervin - Grenarda Street intersection due to the increase in accidents, please allow 20 minutes travel time to your commute.
Gloucester Street????
Posted on 27-07-2016 15:26 | By tabatha
Sometimes people in planning seem to sit on their brains and they obviously become blocked up and unable to function or alternatively let the little boy go out and make a decision because they think he is up to speed. Gloucester looks as though some work has been done, just get off the grass and use the money from the development of sections and get it open.
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