As life gets back to normal, they're more people and vehicles using Ngatai Road.

Tauranga City Council wants to thank people for their continued care when driving through the work site on Ngatai Road.

'There was an unscheduled intermittent lane closure for a few days while we made some adjustments to the footpath outside the medical centre,” says a statement on the council website.

'These works were completed quickly. Thank you for your patience during that time.

Cycleway progress

'Work has progressed well since the lockdown. We expect to finish the full length of the cycleway barrier in the next couple of weeks.

'We're also getting ready to lay asphalt for the first section of cycleway between the Saltmarsh crossing and Emily Place. This will depend on good weather.
'We expect to finish the cycleway towards the end of June. Once the cycleway is done, there will be more work to do. We will update the lane marking and there will be some minor works to complete on the opposite side of the road (Carlton Reserve side).

'All going well, we hope to wrap up the project at the start of July.”

Shared crossings

The shared crossings are now open and working well.

Council has been monitoring their use and says everyone seems to be navigating them appropriately.

'If you haven't already watched the video our Travel Safe team put together about using the new shared crossings safely then check it out. This is great for teaching kids about using the crossings safely – please share this with family and friends.”

Bus Stops

Concrete work for the first of the raised bus stops has been completed.

The bus stop won't be fully operational until all the signage and line marking is in place.
'We currently have buses stopping in the traffic lane on Ngatai Road as part of the traffic management and this will continue once the cycleway is complete.”

Using the new bus stops

• Bus passengers should wait for the bus on the footpath, not on the cycleway.
• Cross the cycleway carefully when the bus has arrived.
• People riding on the cycleway need to give way to anyone crossing at the bus stop.
• Buses will stop in the live traffic lane to let people on and off.
• Vehicles will need to wait behind the bus.

An example of what a bus stop will look like. Photo: Tauranga City Council.

Following discussions with Regional Council we will be keeping the Ngatai Road inbound and outbound bus stops near Western Road.

'This means we will have three inline bus stops along the Saltmarsh side of Ngatai Road.

'Following discussions with Regional Council we will be keeping the Ngatai Road inbound and outbound bus stops near Western Road.

'This means we will have three inline bus stops along the Saltmarsh side of Ngatai Road.”

Road Safety

'Safety is still our number one concern,” says council.

"Please be mindful of the construction sites when you're out and about. The signage and site fencing is there for everyone's safety: yours and our contractors'. If you are driving, please follow the traffic management.”

Please phone the council on 07 577 7000 if you have any concerns.

For more information on the plans for improved connections through Ngatai Road, please go to our webpage: www.tauranga.govt.nz/ngatai