Discussions are underway surrounding the new location for Tauranga's iconic flagpole, in light of a $2.8million traffic re-jig.
The flagpole's eight year tenure at the corner of Takitimu Drive and Elizabeth Street is to come to an end in the coming months after the NZ Transport Agency announced plans to convert the roundabout at State Highway 2, Takitumu Dr and Elizabeth St to traffic lights.
The flagpole has been situated on the corner of Takitimu Drive and Elizabeth Street since May 2008. Photo: Tracy Hardy.
And it seems all parties – including Tauranga City Council, iwi, and NZTA - are keen to keep the flagpole in the near vicinity, or within the new intersection, given its significance at the current location.
'We are working with NZTA on a new location for the flagpole. It will be somewhere in the same area,” says a Tauranga City Council spokesperson.
Installed in 2008, it was gifted to the city by Countdown Supermarket on Cameron Road where it originally stood, and is managed and maintained by the council's property team.
According to council the flagpole was installed on the roundabout as it is the main gateway into the city and creates a sense of national pride. The New Zealand national flag is the only one permitted to fly on the pole.
There are three carvings representing the iwi, which each facing significant landmarks. Ngaiterangi's carving faces Mauao, Ngati Ranginui the marae and Ngati Pukenga an historic Maori settlement.
A NZTA spokesperson says the conversion from a roundabout to traffic lights dates back to 2011 when the intersection was operating at, or above, capacity, resulting in inefficiency which would worsen over time.
'The traffic signals would improve the efficiency of the intersection and minimise delays currently occurring during peak traffic periods in the morning and evening,” said the spokesperson.
They add that the current intersection gets quite congested during peak times, with motorists experiencing long delays on the southbound leg in the mornings and Elizabeth Street in the evenings.
'Signals allow the Transport Agency to better manage traffic flows and waves of vehicles at peak times, thereby reducing delays for all traffic,” they said.
Recently, letters have been sent to nearby residents and business owners informing them of the planned improvement works expected to start in May with a 2-3month construction period.
The Transport Agency is in the process of seeking a contractor for the project and once a consultation date is finalised, it intends on holding an open day for the community.
SunLive is currently running a poll on where the public think the iconic flagpole should be relocated to. Click here to vote.
10 comments
Council's property team
Posted on 13-03-2015 15:17 | By YOGI BEAR
Oh in that case better check for Mould then, as they don't seem to be able to "see" that.
Simplier idea
Posted on 13-03-2015 15:21 | By YOGI BEAR
There should be three free turns/drive through. 1. Free left turn onto Elizabeth, 2. Free left turn out of Elizabeth and 3. a non stop lane to drive straight through on the expressway i.e. 11th Ave to the bridge direction, this then would take away a large part of the traffic otherwise waiting at the round about.
More money!!
Posted on 13-03-2015 15:56 | By Oldies1
$2.8million?? Why not just remove the traffic island (or substantially reduce it's size), seal the area removed, install traffic lights, clearly show lanes, and leave the median strips approaching the intersection. Would this not at least save a couple of million of our taxpayers money?
Heres a thought.....
Posted on 13-03-2015 15:57 | By Jimmy Ehu
move it to Great Mercury Island!!!!.
$2.8m, waste money
Posted on 13-03-2015 16:29 | By YOGI BEAR
Some re-jigging does not cost $2.8m, that is a total destruction and rebuild. There is no sense in that, the crazies department and a raft of consultants to get a $10 job done, typical.
yogi bear.
Posted on 13-03-2015 16:40 | By whatsinaname
sounds like a plan. re free turns. would ease congestion. move the flag pole to the domain.
Just move it toward the water
Posted on 13-03-2015 18:56 | By s83cruiser
It's not a huge one this one but I guess we will be facing a consultants bill somewhere along the line. There is a dividing strip between roundabout traffic and straight through traffic on Takitimu Drive Stick it in amongst the shrubbery Easy as, just needs moving toward the water by about 10 metres I'd say but if that don't work then plant the thing totally on the water side of Takitimu drive on a plinth out in the water just like the warrior at the harbour entrance. No big deal. Shall I send the account to the council????
no no no.....................
Posted on 13-03-2015 20:09 | By Smilarkie
.... leave it alone. Stop wasting money on stupid things like this. For crying out loud, Maungatapu and Bayfair roundabouts have issues not this one. A few cars at peak hour is nothing. Most of the time its fine. There is so many other things in this city that need more attention than this.
The flag
Posted on 13-03-2015 20:13 | By SML
always looked magnificent there! It had sufficient wind to be be fluttering almost all the time, and was easily seen, instead of having to crane your head. I can't vote for any of the "choices" given in the poll - I don't agree with any of them, don't go regularly past any of them now, either. How about down in the gardens or somewhere near the approaches to the Harbour Bridge, where more people could see the magnificent flag on it's flagstaff on a more daily basis?
Rastus
Posted on 14-03-2015 12:48 | By rastus
There is no doubt in my mind that 'Simplier idea' is close to the money(their spelling not mine) the first thing is to make sure you have an unimpeded through road as it is when traveling towards the Mount - then free left hand turns as suggested and then any traffic light control can be kept to an absolute minimum - but you bet your bottom dollar that 'they' will know best.
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