New bridge beams installed at the Domain Road interchange on Thursday put the construction project back on track following the fire that burned through the foam core of the ramp on November 20 last year.

Repairing the damaged section of the new Tauranga Eastern Link has cost $3 million, says NZ Transport Agency's senior project manager Wayne Troughton.

Bridge beams are lifted into place at the Domain Road interchange.

'Crews worked over the Christmas and New Year break to help speed up the re-build programme to minimise the impact of the fire on the opening date of the TEL,” says Wayne.

'After all that hard work, it is great to see the replacement beams go up and to get construction of the interchange back on track.”

The fire caused around one month's delay to the planned opening date of the TEL.

'Despite the setbacks, the TEL is expected to open to traffic ahead of schedule later this year,” adds Wayne.

'We plan to announce the exact opening date next month.”

To find out more about the Tauranga Eastern Link and its progress, go to: http://www.nzta.govt.nz/projects/tel/