Earthworks in preparation for construction of a new interchange over the Tauranga Eastern Link - TEL - are approaching the halfway mark.

The new Pāpāmoa East Interchange will enable the area to be connected to the motorway and enable further development of the area.

Earthworks will continue over the next few months to build the necessary height on the Bell Road side of the Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road - TEL TR.

To allow this work to occur safely, traffic management remains in place until May, with reinstatement work planned for June. Until reinstatement work commences, both eastbound lanes are open and one of the westbound lanes remains closed with a speed limit for traffic headed towards Tauranga set to 70km per hour.

Artist's impression - construction of a new interchange over the Tauranga Eastern Link - TEL - will see Pāpāmoa East connected to the motorway and enable further development of the area. Image: Tauranga City Council.

The team have completed work on widening the shoulder along the outside westbound lane. A concrete barrier is now being installed in preparation for the final road reinstatement over the culvert pipe, which was installed across the motorway in September 2022. This work will require multiple traffic management changes during June, with traffic reduced to one lane in either direction at times.

The intersection will be constructed over the Tauranga Eastern Link (SH2), east of Wairakei neighbourhood, linking Te Okuroa Drive and future Sands Avenue. Map: Tauranga City Council.

Rangiuru Business Park: construction on the Rangiuru Business Park Interchange project (Quayside Properties Ltd), just beyond the electronic toll gates, is in progress. Although unrelated to this project, it is worth noting traffic at this section is down to one lane and a speed limit of 70km per hour applies. See more information here.

"We appreciate drivers' patience with these works and urge people to keep to the signposted speed limits for everyone's safety. As travel times are not materially impacted, tolls will continue to apply,' says a Waka Kotahi NZTA spokesperson.

For more information about the Pāpāmoa East Interchange and construction, visit www.tauranga.govt.nz/pei.