It's happening…
The long-awaited upgrade of the State Highway 2/Ōmokoroa Road intersection has finally been given the green light.
Today Minister of Housing, Megan Woods, announced Western Bay of Plenty District Council has secured $38 million from the Kāinga Ora-led Infrastructure Acceleration Fund to upgrade the intersection.
The upgrade will address the existing safety and capacity issues at the intersection, unlocking critical new housing potential in Ōmokoroa.
The upgrade will see a new interim roundabout built at SH2 / Ōmokoroa Road, four-laning of Ōmokoroa Road from SH2 to Prole Road, and a second roundabout at the future Francis Road intersection to service the industrial area.
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency will also contribute $5m to the project plus land worth $1.49m. Council will manage the project and contribute additional land worth $1.93m.
Western Bay Mayor Garry Webber says this is a momentous achievement for the District, and one that will make a massive difference to people who regularly travel through this intersection.
'It's been a difficult journey with countless push backs, twists and turns over the past 12 years as we have fought to make this project happen for the Ōmokoroa community.
'So to be able to say that this work is really happening will bring immense relief to those who use the intersection.”
Mayor Webber says this is a vital piece of infrastructure for supporting the significant population growth in Ōmokoroa, and the wider region.
'This upgrade will make the intersection safer, and improve its capacity, enabling hundreds of additional homes to be built across the Peninsula.
'Without this funding, this critical development would not be able to go ahead.”
With the upgrade complete, Council expects more than 900 new homes will be constructed across Ōmokoroa by 2029 – including a mix of standalone homes, affordable homes and medium density housing.
Mayor Webber says four key developers have entered 'Housing Outcome Agreements” with Kāinga Ora and Council to show their commitment to delivering this housing as quickly as possible.
Waka Kotahi Director Regional Relationships, David Speirs, says Waka Kotahi looks forward to progressing the upgrade with Council.
'We appreciate the opportunity to progress the upgrade and work alongside Council on this project, and support Kāinga Ora's investment via the Infrastructure Acceleration Fund.
'This continues our work to improve safety and accessibility along this section of SH2.”
A draft design of the proposed State Highway 2 / Ōmokoroa Road intersection. Council will now work with Waka Kotahi on progressing to a detailed design.
The upgrade is a minimum 10-year interim solution to address the immediate needs of the intersection, until funding becomes available to build a full interchange.
The interim solution will be constructed in a way that makes it easier to build the full interchange in the future.
Council will now work with Waka Kotahi towards completing the detailed design of the project, and consenting.
Construction on the first stage may begin as early as the 22/23 construction season, with completion expected in 2025.
For more information visit Council's project webpage.
11 comments
To be cancelled ?
Posted on 21-07-2022 12:01 | By an_alias
So the real question is when will the govt cancel it again. This must be the 2 or 3 time its going ahead.
Better late than never
Posted on 21-07-2022 12:06 | By FRANKS
An obvious political decision...........
Breeding Elephants
Posted on 21-07-2022 12:07 | By CliftonGuy
Work such as this, which are quite obviously needed and just require the necessary technical knowhow, is like breeding elephants. It takes an inordinate amount of time and is accompanied by much noise and effort.
About time
Posted on 21-07-2022 12:37 | By First Responder
But why 4 lane Omokoroa Rd. Should be 4 lanes from Tauranga.
upgrade
Posted on 21-07-2022 12:41 | By dumbkof2
how can it possibly cost 38 mil
Great!!
Posted on 21-07-2022 13:17 | By The Professor
Just what we need.....more roundabouts on the SH2 between Katikati and Tauranga. At this rate, along with the reduced speed limits, a trip to Auckland is going to take a full day!!!
waste
Posted on 21-07-2022 15:27 | By terry hall
another band aid job, waste of money, do it rite in the first place, another papamoa 900 more houses. slowly destroying the omokoaroa life stile use to live there years ago nice little village quite go fishing, not any more, traffic, pollution, crime on the increase and will get worse, sad.
Great News
Posted on 21-07-2022 15:44 | By 2up
Omokoroa has waited and waited for the last 16 + years for this 'Smart Growth' promise. So many negative comments to be ignored, but such a positive result for the community.
Good but
Posted on 21-07-2022 20:26 | By Kancho
So this is an interim solution and better than nothing. I however remember that the full project a four lane extension from Tauranga and a proper interchange had already been approved by the previous government. Labour pulled the funding from under the full extension and the interchange and the designation of an nationally important road. So we should now be grateful for an inferior bandaid patch up. Seems we are seeing lots of temporary fixes.
SO basically $40 Million
Posted on 21-07-2022 21:52 | By The Caveman
for a temporary 10 year fix !! Who are the clowns suggesting / doing this work ?? OH they want to come back in ten years time and want to redo the job for another $50 Million - DO it ONCE and do it to the required standard for the next 50 years !!
@caveman
Posted on 23-07-2022 10:07 | By Kancho
Worse it's a interim solution for a minimum of ten years. That's political speak for maybe twice that. I foresee that traffic in and out of Omokoroa will be safer but at the cost of lot of congestion on the main road. The proper solution is the one cancelled by Labour as soon as they got in . That was a four lane highway and a proper motorway style on off ramp interchange.
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