A $102 million roading project is set to reshape State Highway 2 between Baypark and Bayfair in Tauranga, reducing congestion and improving safety for motorists.
The NZ Transport Agency has confirmed the preferred option for the Baypark to Bayfair link upgrade project (formerly known as the Maunganui-Girven intersection improvements).
The Mount Mauganui/Girven Road intersection. Photo: NZTA.
Acting highway manager Andrew Scott says the changes include two flyovers, one which will take SH2 over the Maunganui-Girven intersection and a second taking State Highway 29 (SH29) over the railway line and the Te Maunga intersection.
Andrew says the project will allow direct access from (SH29) to Baypark and Truman Lane and will see the East Coast Main Trunk railway line relocated behind Owens Place.
A shared pedestrian and cycle path from Owens Place to Baypark is also proposed as part of the plan.
'Members of the public will have the chance to view the proposed changes and ask questions at an open day on Tuesday, July 15, in suite one at ASB Arena, Baypark.”
The project team will be on hand to answer any questions and discuss the option in detail at two sessions, one in the morning at 11.30am to 1.30pm, and one in the evening from 4pm to 7pm.
Andrew says the project, known as option 3A, ticked all the boxes and would improve safety for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians.
He says the announcement comes after a complex investigation that considered numerous options, along with community feedback.
'This plan is a modification of two options that were presented to the public at an open day last April. It was developed following feedback from the public and further investigations.
'It has been designed to reduce congestion at the Maunganui-Girven intersection, improve safety and separate state highway and local traffic. It will also improve the route to the Port of Tauranga.”
The project will proceed through the consent process, with a construction date to be determined following detailed design and approvals.
What will the solution provide:
-a flyover will take SH2 over the Maunganui-Girven intersection
-a flyover will take SH29 over the railway line and the Te Maunga intersection
-direct access from SH29 to Baypark and Truman Lane
-the railway line will be relocated to behind Owens Place
-a shared pedestrian and cycleway will be built from Owens Place to Baypark
Benefits:
-reduced congestion on Maunganui Road, Girven Road and the Te Maunga roundabout
-improved safety for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists
-improved route to the Port of Tauranga
-separate local and state highway traffic
8 comments
flyover
Posted on 12-07-2014 11:23 | By surfsup
And this is more important than the chaos that welcome bay residents face due to turret road work not going ahead because??????
Has to be done
Posted on 12-07-2014 12:19 | By FunandGames
Sadly the Welcome Bay issue is a local council one (yes I know John Key promised)while the Girven Rd Bay Park is a Transit responsibility. Once the Eastern Link is finished the current problem roundabouts will escalate.
@surfsup
Posted on 12-07-2014 13:12 | By Sambo Returns
exactly!!!!!!, the Welcome Bay debacle is filed in the "too hard basket".
The Golf Club patrons and members
Posted on 12-07-2014 13:43 | By SML
and residents of Matapihi properties will be happy.... NOT! I wonder how aware they are of the effects? http://www.busway.co.nz/network/projects/sh2-sh29-baypark-to-bayfair-link-upgrade/docs/project-update-july-2014.pdf
Excellent
Posted on 12-07-2014 14:34 | By Gammelvindnz
This will sort the daily congestion, yay!
@FunandGames
Posted on 12-07-2014 15:05 | By Sambo Returns
Dead set it is a local council problem, they were quite happy to take developers money in the late 70s and 80s, without even making sure access/egress was sorted first, so now we still have not got that issue sorted, even my dog could figure out that problems where going to happen,plus we have not yet got a decent storm water system either,makes you wonder what we actually have got for a close to 400 million debt.
@funandgames
Posted on 12-07-2014 17:06 | By Colleen Spiro
The Welcome bay issue is NOT a Council issue.....NZTA are responsible for the tunnel.....then a deal was done for Turret Road, which will see it become a public road, then a Council problem.
by kiaora2u
Posted on 13-07-2014 14:05 | By FunandGames
I don't disagree with you. But it is a council problem now due to any number of political ineptitude. However from Transits perspective its not their concern anymore.We the ratepayers paid/paying for the harbour bridge and Route K and then gave to Transit meaning they can give the troublesome now ex SH roads to council to sort out.
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