The streets should be much safer for children on their way to and from Welcome Bay and Otumoetai Primary Schools starting this week with the installation of new road zones. The school variable speed zones are stretches of road outside these schools with new flashing 40km/h signs that are given effect at the beginning and end of each school day.

This information from New Zealand Transport Agency weekly bulletin for the week beginning Monday, December 7, published below.

1. Harbour Link Project
Intended programme for this week (weather dependent, therefore subject to change)

• Continuation of short-term traffic diversions on Takitimu Dr from Elizabeth St roundabout to the Chapel St Viaduct whilst asphalt works continue. One lane will be available at all times for traffic. During these diversions traffic will be manoeuvred across lanes, caution is required.
• A short-term lane closure will be installed on Mirrielees Rd/Dive Cr for stabilising and sealing works to be carried out on the new Dive Cr off ramp.
• A series of short-term mobile closures will be deployed for removal of cover shields on destination signs. One lane will be available at all times.
• Short-term lane closures on Chapel St and Dive Cr to carry out work on man hole lids. One lane will be available at all times.

Long-term closures:

• Installation of long-term lane closures, east and westbound on Takitimu Dr. Speed restrictions are in place.
• Long-term lane closures are in place along Hewletts Rd (city bound traffic only), which involves the reduction from 3 to 2 lanes from Totara St to Tasman Quay. Tasman Quay to Ballance Corner is reduced to one lane to allow for a traffic diversion at the old toll plaza site for construction of the new road.
• Pedestrian and cycle access from Totara St south onto Aerodrome Bridge is closed until December 2009. Cyclists and pedestrians are advised to use the new shared walkway/cycleway which runs from Tasman Quay intersection on Hewletts Rd over the new Harbour Bridge to Mirrielees Rd.

2. Tauranga City works this week:
City Centre Intersections: Minor safety improvements will be made to a number of city centre intersections over the next few weeks. The work mainly involves removing a few ‘on road' parking spaces close to the intersections to improve visibility.
Parton Road: Work to reconstruct Parton Road is continuing. This week the work is underway between Dickson Road and Papamoa Beach Road. Installation of services is also in progress near Gordon Spratt Park.
Cameron Road: The bulk of the work has been completed. There is still some minor finishing off to be done. Traffic management and temporary speed limits will still be in place so please take care when driving through the site.
Takitimu Drive: Work on Takitimu Drive continues on both north bound and south bound lanes between the Waihi Road overbridge and Chapel Street. Lane changes and a 30km speed limit are in place so please expect delays, particularly at peak times.
Chadwick Road Resealing: Resealing work on Chadwick Road between Mansels Road and Fraser Street scheduled for last week has been postponed until 8 December due to bad weather. The work should only take a couple of hours to complete. There will be minor disruption to traffic
Footpath Programme: The annual footpath construction programme is continuing. Work is now underway on Valley Road. About 4km of new footpaths will be built between now and Christmas in various parts of the city.
Bus Shelters: Over the next few months 18 new bus shelters will be built at existing bus stops around the city. Work starts this week with construction of the concrete bases for the shelters. Most of the work will be done off the road so there should be minimal disruption to traffic.
Streetlight Upgrading: Upgrades to streetlights in Korowai Street, Seaspray Drive, Goods Road, Pillans Road and Harbour Drive are underway. Work is due to be completed prior to Christmas. Delays to traffic should be minor as all works are located within the road berms.
Local Road Resealing: The local road resealing programme is underway around the city. This week's work is mainly minor and disruption to traffic should be limited.

3. Western Bay of Plenty District works this week:
State Highway Network: SH29/Tuakopai Stream Bridge area rehabilitation work, minor delays possible.

Local Road Network: Seal Extensions - Rowe, Crawford and Mountain Roads. Stop/Go control, minor delays possible. Seal Widening - Minden, Whakamarama, Wairoa and Wilson Road North Roads. Stop/Go control, minor delays possible.