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Travellers arriving in Tauranga from the east on the Tauranga Eastern Link will be greeted by two large-scale steel sculptures at the approaches to the Papamoa interchange.

The steel pa and spinifex attractions were a highlight of a trip through the TEL site today detailing the $400 million project's progress.

A concept of the steel spinifex.

TEL project manager Wayne Troughton says the sculptures are being created by Auckland-based sculptor Regan Gentry and will be constructed of ‘W section guard rail'.

'It will be great for the kids, they will love it,” he says.

The 10 metre diameter steel spinifex is a reference to the wind-blown plant that is a feature of the Papamoa beachscape which parallels the new highway's path.

The similarly scaled spiral pa on the Papamoa Hills side of the highway is a reference to the hills' historic pa, the earthworks of which can still be seen from the highway.

The 23km, four lane highway construction project is currently running about six months ahead of schedule, but an opening date will not be set until next year, says Wayne.

A wet summer could set back the final road sealing processes which are currently underway.

Progress can be judged by the amount of ancillary works now being completed, the noise walls alongside the roadway, and the planting projects.

Plans are to plant 300,000 native plants alongside the highway, and 200,000 of them are already planted, says Wayne.

As the former mountain of polystyrene bricks stacked adjacent to the Domain Road interchange shrinks, planting and landscaping is proceeding nearby.

The bricks, weighing 80kg per two cubic metre, are being used as light fill on the interchange ramps.

The earth around the interchange sank 4.5 metres under pre-load, says Wayne.

As the site is over an old valley from the hills filled in with soft sediments, they are using the polystyrene as light fill.

Wayne says it presented its own problems as construction staff discovered the reflective material resulted in sunburned ears, under noses, chins.

Within a short period of time people handling the blocks were all wearing sunglasses and full face scarves, says Wayne. Middle-aged men even began wearing skull masks.

'The guys were wearing ear muffs because they protected their ears from the sun.”

The project will use 14,000 of the polystyrene bricks. They are laid behind the panels, wrapped in high density polyethylene and covered in cement to form a solid block.

Wayne Troughton with some of the polystyrene bricks.

The Domain Road interchange and the Maungatawa interchange remain under construction.

The Parton Road over bridge spans were installed last week and work is continuing on the abutments and decking.

The Kaituna bridge is awaiting the final hot mix seal, and the ECMT rail bridge and Maketu Road underpass are completed and awaiting the roadbed sealing.

The rail bridge is wider than it is long, at 85m by 16.5m.

The site office at the Tara Road roundabout will be open during the school holidays from 11am-2pm for the public.

The office houses the collection of artefacts discovered during construction, and has recently been updated with new posters and photographs.

A concept of the steel pa sculpture.