A $1.6million contract to construct a new weigh station at Paengaroa as part of Tauranga's Eastern Link project has been awarded to Higgins.

The new weigh station will replace two existing facilities that will be removed as part of the construction of Tauranga Eastern Link.

The new weigh station will include a weigh-in-motion bridge, control building, inspection pit and a hard stand area for truck parking.

NZTA Bay of Plenty State Highway Manager Brett Gliddon says work will begin this summer and the project is due to be completed by July 2013.

The Paengaroa weigh station is one of seven Tauranga Eastern Link enabling works projects. Five of the enabling works have already been completed and one currently underway to increase the size of the Maranui Wetland stormwater treatment pond.

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 pumpstation.

Brett says NZTA was making good progress on construction of the Tauranga Eastern Link, one of seven Roads of National Signficance, the Bay of Plenty's largest ever state highway project and a key strategic transport corridor for the region.

Opening 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.

The new four lane highway with a central median barrier will provide a safer and more direct route between Tauranga to Paengaroa, provide more efficient connections for business, industry and tourism, support regional growth, generate jobs and boost the local economy.