Final designs for proposed Bethlehem traffic improvements should be available for public viewing in early November.
NZ Transport Agency State Highway manager Rod James says several changes have been made to the Bethlehem Township Improvements Project in response to feedback received during public consultation.


An affected part of Bethlehem.

'The revised design aims to provide a balanced approach to help improve peak time traffic flows, enhance the overall urban design in the township and improve the safety of motorists and pedestrians through this busy area,” he says.
Mr James says traffic flows and safety will be improved by four laning the 300 metre stretch of State Highway 2 between the Moffat Road roundabout and the planned West Bethlehem roundabout. The project will provide safer car parking and access to shops.
The amended design includes a controlled crossing mid-way between the two roundabouts, which was incorporated into the design in response to public feedback.
'Once the Bethlehem Township Improvements Project is completed, commuters will enjoy a safer and less congested trip through Bethlehem Township, while shop owners and their customers will experience an improved urban environment with greater connectivity between shopping on both sides of the road.”
The changes are to reduce long tailbacks experienced by peak hour commuters as they pass through the pinch point at Bethlehem.
'The planned improvements will also improve safety for pedestrians and people parking in the village, making accessing the shops a lot easier,”
says Rod.
The Bethlehem project is one part of an integrated transport plan developed as part of the SmartGrowth Northern Corridor Strategy, which includes the progressing of the Tauranga Northern Arterial (TNA) and safety improvements between Route J and Bethlehem.
'With this in mind, an important factor we had to consider in planning is this section of SH2 through Bethlehem will ultimately revert to being a local urban road once the TNA is built,” says Rod.
The contract for the next $3 million phase of work to progress the TNA will be awarded within the next month.
'An important part of the site investigations will involve geo-technical investigations, which will provide critical information needed to develop the detailed design. We expect to have ground testing rigs on site early next year.”