Work is progressing on the Tauranga Eastern Link project with HEB Construction Limited being awarded the $1million contract to enlarge the Maranui stormwater treatment pond.

NZ Transport Agency awarded the project to HEB to increase the size of the Maranui stormwater treatment pond, which will allow for additional runoff generated from the Papamoa catchment and the Tauranga Eastern Link project.

Contractors work on the Tauranga Eastern Link project.

NZTA's Bay of Plenty State Highways Manager Brett Gliddon says this work will get underway this month and is expected to be completed by May 2013.

The Maranui stormwater treatment pond enlargement is one of seven TEL enabling works projects.

Five of the enabling works have already been completed and the last of the seven is currently out to tender.

The completed projects include building the Kaituna Road extension; extending Truman Lane; relocating a bulk watermain; storm water upgrades around Mangatawa and expanding an existing pump station.

Construction progress on the Bay of Plenty's largest state highway project is well underway and soon the Tauranga Eastern Link will be celebrating a special milestone in November, recognising the project's two-year anniversary since the contract was awarded to build the $455million Tauranga Eastern Link.

The road is expected to open in 2016, the four-lane Tauranga Eastern Link will run from Te Maunga, near Baypark Stadium, in Tauranga to the existing junction of State Highways 2 and 33 (the Rotorua and Whakatane highways) near Paengaroa.

It will be made up of 17km of new road and an upgrade of six kilometres of existing highway.